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THE SELECT SERIES. 

A WEEKLY PUBLICATION. 

Devoted to Good Reading in American JE^iction. 

Subscription Price, $ 13.00 Per Year. No. 55.— AUGUST 20, 1890. 
Copyrighted , 1890, by Street eg Smith. 

Entered at the Post Office, New York, as Second-Class Matter. 


ROXY HASTINGS; 

OR, 

A Raffle for Life. 


BY 

' ! 

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ROXY HASTINGS 


CHAPTER I. 

IMPRISONED IN. THE VAULT. 

At four o’clock on an autumnal afternoon, a few years 
ago, one of the banks of the city of New York was the scene 
of an event of extraordinary interest, and one which 
threw the frequent monetary excitements of those temples 
of Mammon quite into the shade. 

Business hours were nearly over, and only a few clerks 
were lingering at their desks, when a beautiful girl, of 
about fourteen years, walked trippingly into the bank, and 
inquired for her father, the cashier. 

‘ ‘ Gone, Carry, ” was the reply of the receiving teller, a 
slight young man, who was bending under the weight of a 
heavy tray of gold and silver coin, which he was in the' 
act of carrying to the vault, and whose large dark eyes 
grew brighter at the sight of the fair girl. “Gone, but he 
will return for a moment before starting for home. I ex- 
pect him back every minute. ” 

“ Oh, I am so glad that I am not too late,” replied Caro- 
line, following with childish curiosity the young man to 
the door of the vault, and looking in, while he entered and 
deposited his specie in a safe which stood in one corner of 
the iron room. 

“ What a dreadful place ! Is this where you keep all 
your money?” 

“All our treasures of every kind. Won’t you walk in?” 

A sudden thought seemed to strike the girl, who clapped 
her hands and said : 


6 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“ Yes, yes ! lock me in, and when papa comes send him 
here on some pretext, and see how astonished he’ll be. 
Will you?” 

“ Yes, step in. Shall I lock it ? It will be pitch dark in- 
side. ” 

“ Oh, I don’t care. Yes, lock it in the regular way, and 
then hand papa the key, and tell him there is a package 
in there for him to take home. ” 

“ A baggage, did you say ?” asked Charley Lee, looking 
laughingly in at the merry maiden, and then closing the 
heavy iron door with a clangor which resounded through 
the building. 

There was no talking through the two feet of solid iron, 
and if the thoughtless child regretted her rash request 
when the thick darkness environed her, and when she in- 
haled the odor of moldy and mildewed books and papers, 
it was too late to make her wishes known. 

Charley Lee locked the door with that tripple combina- 
tion lock, burglar-proof, and proof, alas ! against honest 
men, too, if their memory fails to retain aright the num- 
bers upon which it is set, and the order in which those 
numbers occur. 

The chance of regaining the clew when once lost was but 
one in many hundreds of thousands, and it is usual to 
keep the numbers written down upon a slip of paper for 
greater safety ; but the young man had intrusted this 
weighty secret to a memory thronged with pleasant 
thoughts about his fair prisoner, and about the surprise 
which was to be practiced upon the expected parent. 

The porter, whose province it was to lock the vault, but 
who often delegated that duty to the tellers, had gone out, 
no one knew whither, and Lee, to whom he had communi- 
cated the mystic numbers for the current week, believed 
that he had remembered them aright, and that he had used 
them in locking up the vault. 

But no sooner was his fair prize made sure than the ter- 
rible fear flashed across his mind that his memory might 
prove unfaithful to its great trust, and the appearance, at 
that instant, of Mr. Wilsey, the cashier, contributed far- 
ther to confuse his disturbed faculties. No further thought 
of his joke remained, but with trembling hand he applied 
the key to the lock, and tried in vain to remember even 
the first figure to which it was to be turned. 

“ What is the matter, Lee ? Can’t you lock it?” asked 
the cashier, who observed the teller’s hurried, nervous 
movements. 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


7 


Charles arose, and wiping the perspiration from his fore- 
head, exhibited a face on which agony was too plainly im- 
pressed to escape observation. 

“I — fear — I have made a terrible mistake, sir,” he said ; 
“your daughter Carry came here — she went in there for a 
frolic — to hide from you — I locked her in — and I’ve for- 
gotten the numbers !” 

Wilsey trembled and turned pale as these words were 
spoken. 

“Good heavens, Lee!” he said, “you must remember! 
She cannot live in there half an hour !” 

“ I know it ! Not long !” replied Charles, whose confusion 
was worse confounded by this injudicious speech, and 
whose brain seemed on fire, “ but I used the porter’s num- 
bers, I think, and I will run for him. ” 

u Do you know where to go ? Does any one know where 
he has gone ?” 

No one knew. The few employees of the institution, 
who had not gone home for the day were by this time 
crowding the door of the vault in a state of great excite- 
ment. 

As nearly as could be ascertained from them the porter 
had gone in three or four different directions, and would 
return at five, at half-past five, and at six o’clock. 

The cashier dispatched two of the clerks in pursuit of 
him, and sent a third in breathless haste to the office of 
the manufacturers of the vault, with a message requesting 
men and tools to be sent for the purpose of breaking it 
open. 

While he waited in breathless suspense the return of 
these messengers he still tried to stimulate the memory of 
the baffled teller, whose bewilderment was only increased 
by the lapse of the precious moments. 

“ I am sure the first number was twenty-three — or thirty- 
two,” he said. “No, that was the second — the first was — I 
really cannot tell. It’s all gone from me.” 

Vainly the distracted father sought to hold some com- 
munication with his imprisoned child. No voice could 
pierce that massive wall of iron, but when he held his ear 
close against it he was conscious of a dull, heavy sound, as 
of something beating against the inner surface of the door. 
Doubtless the wretched girl, after exhausting her voice in 
fruitless screams, had groped about in the darkness until 
she had found some book or other hard substance, with 
which she was knocking to attract attention. 


8 EOXV HASTINGS. 

“Thank Heaven! she lives yet !” said the father, “but‘ 
ah ! how long ?” 

“ It is not ten minutes yet,” replied the young man, “and 
I think one might breathe there for an hour ; don’t — don’t 
you think so ?” 

“I cannot tell, but I think not, Mr. Lee. I have read of 
some experiments showing how fearfully soon animal life 
becomes extinct in a perfectly air-tight room, even larger 
than that. Oh, it is too horrible !” 

Charles remembered how nearly stifling was the air of 
the vault to him, even when he entered it for a few minutes, 
with the door open, and his heart sank with new terror. 

They replied from time to time to the signal of the im- 
mured girl by striking with a hammer upon the door, hop- 
ing thus to keep up her courage ; nor did they cease to try 
the lock on various combinations of numbers, though in 
a feeble, hopeless way. 

While thus engaged one of the clerks returned, accom- 
panied by an agent of the manufacturers, to whom Wilsey 
turned with great eagerness. 

“You have come alone, and without tools,” he said, 
angrily, “ when I want this vault broken open instantly, to 
save my daughter’s life.” 

“Sir,” replied the man, solemnly, “we have not force 
enough in our establishment to open that door, or to effect 
any entrance into that room in less than twelve or fifteen 
hours. ” 

Wilsey groaned. 

“ And the combinations ?” he asked. “ How many are 
there ? How long will it take to try them all ? What are 
the chances?” 

“ There is no hope in that direction,” replied the man — 
“ at least none worth counting on ; though you can keep 
trying, of course. If Mr. Lee really locked the door with 
the porter’s figures, and you can find him in time, all will 
be right. But this is your only hope. ” 

“Let me go for him !” said Lee, wildly. “Let us all go 
in different directions. Let us sound the alarm through 
the city. Surely we can find him somewhere !” 

The painful tidings were indeed already fast spreading ; 
the bank was filling up with curious and anxious specta- 
tors, and volunteer messengers were constantly starting 
off in search of the man on the discovery of whom such 
momentous results depended. 

At this moment a book-keeper entered, who had been 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


out to dine or lunch, and had returned to finish his un- 
completed day’s work. 

Entering the bank with the impression that it had been 
robbed or was on fire, he soon learned the cause of the 
alarm. 

“ I can tell you where the porter has gone, ” he said to 
the eager crowd which closed around him, “ for he knew 
that I was to stay late this afternoon, and asked me to 
wait for him until seven o’clock.” 

“Where, where?” 

“To his sister’s, who lives in Washington avenue, in 
Brooklyn. I don’t know the number, but the name is 
Mason, and it is near Myrtle avenue. ” 

An uncertain address — and a distance which would re- 
quire a full hour and a half to traverse to and fro. 

But three willing messengers started, and among them 
Lee, who outstripped his companions, reaching the Wall 
street ferry just in time to gain, by a long leap, a parting 
boat, for which his competitors were a moment too late. 
Never had steamboat seemed so slow as that which bore 
him now, and never he thought had he known so many ves- 
sels to obstruct the river, requiring such deviations from 
the direct route of the ferry-boat. 

But he is across at last ; he is the first man ashore, and, 
as on the wings of the wind, he speeds up the hill, and 
through Montague street, attracting all eyes, but heeding 
nothing, thinking of nothing, save his thrilling mission. 
Should he find Hart? Should he get back in time? And 
last and most fearful question of all, would the porter’s 
numbers prove to be those on which he had locked those 
awful portals (portals, perhaps, of the grave now), and 
which would guide him to an easy reversal of the ponder- 
ous bolts. 

On a Myrtle avenue car he took his stand beside the 
conductor, and proclaiming the urgency of his errand, he 
purchased an increased rate of speed — yet fifty minutes 
passed since he left the bank before he stood at the door of 
Mis. Mason’s house, furiously ringing the bell. 

Yes, Hart was there. What a relief to see him — the 
magician at whose touch that iron door was wont daily to 
fly open ! He was in his slippers, cozily awaiting tea, and 
playing with his sister’s children, and not for an hour yet 
would he have thought of starting on his return. 

“ The numbers ! Give me the numbers !” said Lee, breath- 
lessly. “ I have locked Miss Wilsey in the vault, and can- 
not get it open again.” 


10 


liOXY EASTINGS. 


The affrighted porter took out his pocket-book, and pro- 
duced the cabalistic figures, written on a slip of paper, 
which he handed to Lee, whose face took an added look of 
pain as he gazed on them, and repeated them several times. 

“ Are you sure these are the same you told me ?” he asked. 

“Perfectly. I know them like my A, B, C. I never 
look at the paper.” 

“ Probably I used them, then. If not all is lost. But 
they do not look familiar to me. ” 

“ You are too frightened to tell ; but when you locked the 
door you were calm, and your memory was good. Do not 
look so aghast. You will find them right.” 

Hart was hurriedly getting ready to go with him as he 
spoke, and they went forth together. 

All speed was made, and at twelve minutes past six they 
rushed into the bank, where an excited crowd parted and 
made way for them. 

The distracted father was pacing the directors’ room ; a 
band of workmen, a few, indeed, but all that could -be 
crowded into the upper compartment or second story of 
the vault, were busy in trying to force an opening through 
into the lower part — large enough, at least, for the admis- 
sion of air — and two physicians were in attendance, ready 
to bestow upon the young lady the benefit of their profes- 
sional skill, if she should be taken out alive. The knock- 
ing from within had ceased nearly an hour, and little hope 
was entertained by any one that the unfortunate girl still 
lived. 

Hart was quickly at the door of the vault, and every 
voice was hushed during the few moments of agonizing 
suspense in which the result yet remained uncertain. 

Wilsey leaned over him with ghost-like visage, and a 
score of scarcely less pallid faces closed around him as the 
last of the tripartite numbers was tried, and a vigorous 
pull was made upon the ponderous door to test the result. 

It moves ! and a buzz which multiplies and grows into 
a shout of “ open ! open !” spreads through the bank, ex- 
tends into the street, and is echoed along the crowd which 
blocks the great thoroughfare for many rods on each side 
of the building, and which is still augmenting, while ram- 
pant policemen are momentarily charging through it to 
make way for the vehicles stopped on either side. 

Charley Lee, forcing his way beneath the porter’s arm, 
is first in the iron room, where, groping, he grasps the 
prostrate form of the young lady and drags it out. 
“Fallback! fallback!” said the authoritative voice of 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


11 


the physician. “ Give her air ! throw open the windows, 
and let the room be cleared. ” 

It was a mournful spectacle which presented itself to 
view. 

There were no signs of life, and on the purple face, up- 
turned to the few beholders, lingered a look of agony and 
terror, which had been imprinted there while consciousness 
yet remained. 

They laid her tenderly upon the directors’ table, while 
another and a sadder word went forth from pale lips, 
gathering volume as it proceeded, and reverberating to the 
outermost edges of the street crowd, “ Dead ! Quite dead !” 

Some turned away in sadness, and not a few strong men 
wept. 

But the vital spark was not quite extinct. A slight pul- 
sation was detected. The lungs played faintly, just stirring 
the feathery fibers that were held beneath the nostrils, and 
again the swaying multitude were thrilled with the words, 
shouted from the windows and door, and caught up and 
repeated by a hundred voices outside, while upraised arms 
and waving hats telegraphed the glad news to those who 
could not hear it spoken : 

“ She is alive ! she is alive !” 

Ah ! there is much that is good in poor, weak human na- 
ture after all. How heart answers to heart when thus 
some isolated case of distress appeals directly to the sym- 
pathies, which would perhaps- remain unmoved at the tid- 
ings of whole battalions swept down in battle. 

Miss Wilsey slowly recovered, and in an hour or so was 
assisted to a carriage and taken home by her overjoyed 
father. Yet even in that moment of bliss Mr. Cashier 
Wilsey found it in his heart coldly to repulse the offered 
services of young Lee, whose delight at the rescue of Caro- 
line had surpassed expression, and who at any moment of 
her recent peril would unhesitatingly have laid down his 
life to save that which he had so thoughtlessly endangered. 

“ It is unnecessary, Mr. Lee, we shall do very well, and 
I think she will get over the shock sooner for not seeing 
you. Of course it was unintentional, and all that, but I still 
shudder to think what might have been the result of your 
folly.” 

Charley turned indignantly away from the cold-hearted 
man, yet with a saddened air. 

“Oh, father! it was all my fault, not his,” said the 
daughter, eagerly, but faintly. “ I asked him to lock me 

in.” 


12 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


11 He ought to have known better, ” was all the reply that 
the young man heard as the father and daughter went out 
together ; but there was a radiant look of kindness thrown 
back to him from the fair child, which more than compen- 
sated for the churlishness of her parent. 


CHAPTER II. 

A DESPAIRING HOUSEHOLD. 

Charley Lee’s position in the bank was one of small 
pecuniary value, yet it was nearly the whole support of a 
family of four persons. 

His father had been a merchant in good standing, who 
had emerged from the crisis of ’57 without failing, but 
with such heavy losses as ought to have induced him to 
wind up his business at once and save something from its 
debris. 

Unfortunately he struggled on about three years, main- 
taining his credit, but not regaining his lost ground, and 
when at last he resolved to stop, although he paid his debts, 
he saved nothing but his good name, his household furni- 
ture — his house was mortgaged too deeply to save anything 
from that — and a Pennslyvania farm of a couple of hun- 
dred acres, which no creditor could be coaxed to take. 

He sold his furniture, excepting so much of it as was 
necessary to furnish a few rooms at a boarding-house, and 
a few months later, while diligently struggling to find 
some way of beginning life anew, he was saved further 
trouble on that score by a brain fever, which terminated 
his existence, and left his little family whelmed in a deeper 
grief than any which mere poverty could produce. 

A life insurance tantalized the afflicted family for a while 
with the prospect of pecuniary relief, but the company 
which had issued it kept a very sharp attorney employed 
to pick flaws in its policies, and evade the payment of 
them when possible ; and some irregularity was discovered 
which vitiated this solemn contract with the dead. 

Mrs. Lee was not a lady of resources, and she quailed 
beneath these successive blows, and looked hopelessly for- 
ward to the future of herself, her three children and her 
father — a destitute old gentleman of more than seventy- 
seven years, who for more than a decade had been a mem- 
ber of her husband’s family, and had never for a moment 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


13 


in all that time been allowed to feel that his presence was 
a burden. The widow’s oldest son, Alfred, who was a 
couple of years the senior of Charles, was in the army, 
having volunteered soon after his father’s death, under 
circumstances which will appear more fully hereafter. Like 
Charles, he had been thoroughly educated, and for a short 
time before his father’s retirement from business, he had 
been a partner in the house. Alfred was a little taller and 
stouter than his brother, and having curling chestnut hair, 
fine gray eyes, and an ample forehead, might be considered 
a fair specimen of manly beauty. 

Charles was at this time nearly twenty years old, and 
had returned from Yale only about three months before 
the death of his father, who would not let his altered for- 
tunes interfere with the completion of his son’s education. 

He had been designed for a profession, but the emer- 
gency which was now so close upon his family no longer 
permitted him to entertain such aspirations ; and he was 
too happy to be able to add a little to his widowed mother’s 
means by entering a bank on a small salary. 

From this position he had soon risen to the better one in 
which the opening of our narrative finds him ; but during 
this period the Lees had fallen from one depth of poverty 
to another, until all their scant means being exhausted, 
they had no dependence beyond the earnings of Charles, 
and some trifling avails of the needle of both mother and 
daughter. 

The respectable boarding-house in which the reduced 
merchant had taken rooms had been exchanged for an ob- 
scure home on the east side of the city, where, in a hired 
half house, which they had scantily furnished, they ceased 
to make any claims to their former gentility. 

Into this obscurity their more prosperous friends per- 
mitted them to subside without much inquiry after them, 
a circumstance which the charitable widow considered 
quite a proof of their good nature. 

“ They do not want to annoy us by finding us in such a 
place as this, Laura,” she would say to her daughter ; “and 
it is really quite considerate of them.” 

Laura Lee deserves some description at our hands, not 
so much because she possessed unusual personal attrac- 
tions, being a slight, graceful, black-eyed girl — such soft, 
large, lustrous eyes they were, too — as for her filial and 
sisterly love, for the contented spirit with which she ac- 
cepted her new position, and for her earnest, cheerful dis- 
charge of the onerous duties which it devolved upon her. 


14 


UOXY HASTINGS. 


Laura’s descent in the social scale had cost her a lover — 
if he deserved the name — a young man of some fashion, 
ana of a good family, who had all but proposed before her 
father’s misfortunes, and whom she was trying very hard 
to like, in compliance with the advice of her parents. 

But she did not mourn for Mr. Perth, of whose selfish- 
ness and insincerity, which she had before suspected, she 
now had such convincing proof. 

He was in truth a shalloAv coxcomb, though a prosperous 
business man, who spent money freely on himself in dress 
and personal decoration, but who, in all other respects was 
parsimonious, nay, almost miserly. 

It might not be too much to say that Laura’s escape from 
such a man more than compensated her for all the evils of 
her new lot. 

Old Mr. Todd, the remaining member of this little house- 
hold, was a perfect gentleman in all respects but one ; he 
was willing to work. He was anxious to work — at any- 
thing whatever that could assist the family, which, while 
in affluence, had supported him in ease and never allowed 
him to feel his dependence. 

He had been a man of some note in his day, as a country 
editor and politician ; had held some responsible public 
offices, and had come out of the political arena with unsul- 
lied reputation. 

He was now a white-haired, stoutish, slightly bent old 
man, with the mildest and most benevolent of faces, with 
mental powers scarcely impaired ; intelligent, witty, and 
altogether a niost lively and agreeable companion. 

“He would be an ornament to any family,” his generous 
son-in-law used to say of him. “ I do not consider him 
beholden to me. The obligation is quite on the other side. ” 

Mrs. Lee adored her father, and loved her husband more 
for his generous treatment of one so dear to her. 

“ I have been thinking what I can do,” said the old gen- 
tleman one morning, soon after they had moved into their 
new home ; “ I can keep a little news stand here on the 
corner, and sell the morning and evening papers. ” 

“Father! You! You never shall do that. I will sew 
all my fingers off first. ” 

“No, grandpa, I’m going to give music lessons,” said 
Laura, “ and then we shall do very well. ” 

“Yes, this is such a capital neighborhood to get pupils 
in,” said the old man, ironically, “and you have so much 
leisure.” 

“Well, I’m going to try, and Charley is expecting pro- 


ROXY EASTINGS. 


15 


motion next year, and, at any rate, you are not going to 
sell newspapers.” 

“If it is really so distasteful to you and your mother, 
Laura, I won’t do that, of course, but I must do some- 
thing. ” 

“ Do nothing, father, more than you have been accus- 
tomed to,” said the widow. “Read the papers ; read your 
books ; smoke your pipe ; take your nap and be comfort- 
able. You are too old to work.” 

“ And it is for us to bear the burden and heat of the day, 
now,” added Laura, patting him on the shoulder. 

The major, as the old gentleman had been called for forty 
years, having once held that militia rank, did not reply 
to these persuasions, but the next day he was missing early 
from home, to which he did not return until late in the 
afternoon, when he came back much fatigued, and on 
being questioned as to where he had been, he would only 
reply, with a smile, that he had been “looking around.” 

A second and third day he was absent in like manner, 
and after being long importuned to tell his secret, he said : 

“You know that I was a printer when I was quite a 
young man. I have not forgotten my trade. I am employed 
at the Herald office setting type, and you’ll see at the end 
of the week that I have earned something. ” 

He seemed much pleased, and his daughter did not fur- 
ther dissuade him, except by exacting from him a promise 
that he would not go out on rainy days, or when he felt 
unwell. 

That evening Charley Lee returned home the very pic- 
ture of woe, and the effect upon the little familv was as if 
a storm-cloud had suddenly descended from the sky and 
enveloped the house in its murky folds. A reflected gloom 
gathered upon every face. 

“What is the matter, Charles?” asked the frightened 
mother. 

“Discharged!” said the young man, dropping into a 
chair, and turning his face away from his questioners. It 
was some minutes before he could say more, or before any 
had the heart to question him further. 

But his mother asked at last, with a choking voice and 
impeded utterance : 

“ For what cause, Charles ?” 

“ I took another hundred dollar counterfeit bill yester- 
day, in some scoundrel’s deposits, and the bank has to lose 
it. We did not find it out till to-day, but this is the second 
time, you know, that I have done it. ” 


16 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“Blit — but don’t you know whom you took it from?” 

“ Oh, no, mother. It is utterly impossible to tell. The 
rascals choose the dark days, like yesterday, to slip them 
in mixed up in great piles of good money, bringing them in 
just before three o’clock, when we are most hurried.” 

“But — but if we should pay it; there's my watch will 
bring nearly that sum. It must go sooner or later, and — ” 
“No, mother, it’s no use. The deed is done, and my 
successor is already appointed. They say I am not safe, 
and I am tabooed now, so that I can’t get into any other 
bank. That’s the worst of it.” 

“What heartless conduct !” 

“You may well say that. A great deal worse mistakes 
than mine have been overlooked, but I think the cashier 
has never forgiven me that affair of Carry’s. He’s been 
very cool toward me ever since. ” 

“ He must be very unjust then, and most ungrateful, too, 
for you really saved his daughter's life at last.” 

“ He professes to have nothing to do with my removal, 
and lays it all to the directors ; but everybody knows he 
could have prevented it if he had wished. ” 

The “affair of Carry’s” had really a great deal to do with 
the young man’s dismissal. Not that Mr. Wilsey retained 
any anger against young Lee for his agency in that accident. 
He was not unreasonable enough for that. But Caroline, 
who Avas a somewhat romantic girl, had manifested quite 
too much interest in the handsome teller e\ r er since her 
rescue from her threatened tomb, and she was fond of 
talking about him as her preserver, etc. 

She was but a child, but she was approaching an age at 
which some young misses form or fancy very strong at- 
tachments, and how terrible would it be, thought Mr. 
Wilsey, if his only daughter should fall in love Avith this 
penniless fellow. He designed her for something so much 
higher, and he even had hopes of her catching young Tele- 
machus Smith, Avho Avas his near neighbor, and Avhose 
father had made a million in the Avhisky line, and Avas 
fast drinking himself to death. True, young Smith was a 
“saphead,” and, like most of his species, was as conceited 
as he was homely and shallow, but there was the money. 
And Avas not Mr. Wilsey a janitor in the temple of Mam- 
mon ? Did not he fall doAvn daily before his idol in grovel- 
ing abasement ? Did not he value all men and all women 
in exact proportion to the amount of their gilding ? He was 
called rich himself, but he was poor compared with his 


ROXY HASTINGS. 17 

longings and aspirations, and he looked forward to the 
whisky alliance as one of the means of advancement. 

It was better to have the handsome young Lee out of the 
way, for at the bank Miss Wilsey must sometimes see him, 
and although it would have been an easy matter to forbid 
her coming there, this, as the cashier very well knew, 
would increase the danger which he sought to avert. 

Once separated from the institution, he might never see 
Caroline again, for surely he would not have the temerity 
to visit her at her father’s house. So the excuse was 
found, and the decapitation took place, and the result was 
what we have seen, a despairing household. 

“Whom disaster 

Had followed fast and followed faster.” 


CHAPTER III. 

A TIMELY WARNING. 

Husbanding all resources, stinting themselves in all 
things, selling jewelry, and even some of the best of their 
apparel, thus lived the unfortunate family whom poverty, 
“like an armed man,” had overtaken. Bad as was their 
condition, it grew daily worse, and they looked bodingly 
forward to the near day when they should have nothing 
more to sell or to pawn. 

Charles could get no employment, though he sought it 
diligently, and the only money that was brought into the 
house, except for property sold or pawned, was the old 
major’s weekly earnings, of five or six dollars, which were 
always promptly and proudly handed over to his daughter. 

It seemed a great deal now. Indeed it nearly furnished 
their scant table, but it could not last long, and then how 
hard they all thought it for the infirm old man, whose 
nightly fatigue, nay, almost exhaustion, they could not fail 
to observe. 

Charles grieved most over his grandfather’s hard lot, 
for he had been from infancy an especial pet of the major’s, 
whom he both loved and venerated. 

u To think that he should have to work like a boy while 
I am idle,” he said. “I’ll learn to set types myself, if I 
don’t find something to do soon.” 

While the young man grieved and pondered, his thoughts 
turned as they had turned many times before, to the tract 
of Pennsylvania land his father had owned, and of which, 


18 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


in his last illness he had given his son a deed to obviate 
the trouble and expense of making and proving a will, or 
taking out letters of administration. 

“It’s all I have to leave,” said the dying man, “except 
the little that I have already given to your mother, brother, 
and sister. It is worth nothing, or nearly nothing now, 
but it may possibly have some value hereafter. Probably 
you might get a hundred dollars for it, and if you should 
be hard pressed it would be better to take that than to 
keep it and pay taxes on it. ” 

A hundred dollars. Charles thought so, too, as he re- 
called these words. He wished most earnestly that he 
could realize that magnificent sum for his unmarketable 
estate, and he resolved, after much deliberation, to go and 
see it, and try to find a purchaser for it. He was unoccu- 
pied, therefore he would waste no valuable time, and as to 
traveling expenses, why he would, if necessary, go on 
foot ; and wouldn’t he astonish and delight his friends 
when he came back with a pocket full of money, perhaps 
even twice the sum which he had fixed upon as his mini- 
mum price ? It would last for several months, and surely, 
before it was all gone, Charley thought, he would find 
something to do which would keep the wolf from the door, 
and secure to them the simple privilege of existence. 

“Grandfather shall have a week’s holiday,” he said, cal- 
culating, like the luckless milk-maid, “ and when I get a 
place he shall give up that dreadful work altogether. ” 

Having decided to go he next resolved to keep his busi- 
ness quite secret from the family, hoping to surprise them 
with good news, or at all events to save them from hopes 
which might be blasted. 

Assured that they possessed the means for present sup- 
port, Charles left them professedly for a week, obtaining 
with some difficulty his mother’s permission to go, and to 
keep his secret, whatever it might be. 

“He is pining here,” she said to Laura, and perhaps he 
has found some place out of town which he is to take on 
trial. He is old enough, and discreet enough, to be trusted, 
and he has promised to be most careful of himself. Let 
him go.” 

Young Lee was a good pedestrian, but he did not travel 
to his patrimony altogether on foot. He had a few dollars 
more than was necessary to pay for his food and lodgings 
by the way, and he was astonished to find how far he could 
make them go, and how far they could make him go, by 
availing himself of only the cheapest modes of travel. 


BOXY HASTINGS . 


19 


Behold him now at an obscure inn, in a little village on 
the Alleghany River, about twenty miles distant from that 
sterile tract of land which he had come so far to see and 
to sell. Here he made known his business to a fat, sleepy 
landlord, with a very beery expression of face, who both 
dashed and revived his hopes by his reply. 

“ ’Tain’t worth anything ’cept for the wood, and it costs 
twice as much to cut that and git it to market as it’s 
worth, though there has been some leetle inquiry for land 
up there-a-way lately. ” 

“Oh, there has, eh?” 

“Yes, there’s been some fools around here looking for 
coal ile, ever since that old salt well on Squire Bingham’s 
farm began to spit up gas and grease. ” 

“ How was that? I haven’t heard anything about it.” 

“No, I s’pose not. You see there used to be salt works 
on the squire’s land, but they wa’nt well managed, and 
they kind o’ gin out arter a while, and got partly filled up. 
Latterly the squire’s heirs thought they’d try it again, and 
they cleared the rubbish out of one of the deepest of the 
wells, and began to dig it deeper, though they were most 
suffocated with a very stinky kind of gas that kept cornin’ 
up. Byme-by the salt water come very fast, and they hed 
to hurry up, and the well filled and overflowed very quick, 
with a very greasy water, that you could set fire to as it 
run.” 

“Possible?” 

“Fact, sir, and after a few hours, instid o’ water it sent 
up nothin’ but ile — clear ile, and it’s been doin’ so ever 
since — hundreds o’ barrels a day.” 

“ And is it worth anything ?” 

“ Oh, yes, a little ; but they say the price will go up won- 
derfully when they git it to Europe, and the Binghams ex- 
pect to make their for tins. They’re catchin’ and barrelin’ 
all they can, but they’ve lost ten times, yes, twenty times 
as much as they’ve saved, for want of barrels to put it in.” 

“It’s wonderful. They’ll make a fortune, of course.” 

“I don’t believe it. It can’t hold out long, you see, it 
ain’t nateral. Who ever heerd of sich a thing? And 
then they’re simpletons enough to think that the earth is 
full of ile and they can tap it wherever they choose ; so 
they’re nosing around here for places to dig.” 

“ And have they found oil anywhere else ?” 

“No, and they never will — take my word for that.” 

Exactly where Squire Bingham’s farm was the landlord 
could not tell. It was quite a distance from there — some- 


20 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


where off in the direction of Lee’s land — and he only told 
the story as he had heard it repeated by sojourners at his 
house. 

But when, on the next day, Lee succeeded, after very 
diligent search, in finding his own land, he learned to his 
surprise that it adjoined that of the Binghams ; that the 
same creek flowed through it, and that a couple of sharp- 
nosed speculators were even then exploring it with crows 
and pickaxes, digging and delving here and there, smelling 
the earth and examining the surface of the stream for indi- 
cations of oil. 

He found these men upon the land, and with much sim- 
plicity, at once proclaimed himself as its owner, and dis- 
closed his wish to sell. 

“ Do you find any signs of coal oil ?” he asked, for that 
was the name by which the precious liquid was then known. 

The men exchanged glances, and the elder, a stoutish, 
smooth-faced man, with an irrepressible twinkle of his 
sharp black eyes, replied : 

“Not a sign. We’ve tried it in twenty places, and should 
have been after you pell-mell if we had. No, I guess the 
Binghams have got the only spring there is hereabout, 
though there’s said to be two or three more a dozen or 
fourteen miles south of here. We’ll go there to-morrow, 
Sligh, hay?” 

“ Yes, we’ll go and see. But I don’t think myself that ile 
land is worth much if we should find it. You see, it’ll cost 
all it’s worth to git it out and barrel it and git it to market. 
Don’t you see?” 

“Yes, it’s very doubtful, I know. I wouldn’t pay much 
more for the land with the oil than without it. But I want 
a good tract of timber land somewhere hereabout, if I can 
get it cheap — very cheap. ” 

“Wouldn’t this suit you? How much will you give for 
this?” 

“N-no, I think not; still I would buy it cheap — a couple 
of dollars an acre or so. ” 

A couple of dollars an acre ! Why, here was an offer of 
four hundred dollars for what only yesterday he would 
gladly have sold at quarter of that sum. 

His delight rendered him for a moment almost speech- 
less, and he was about closing with the offer, when, on 
looking up, his eyes met those of Mr. Sligh, a tall, gaunt, 
stooping fellow, who stood a few steps behind his comrade, 
and had seemed very intent on whittling a stick. 

Sligh ’s look, although only a glance, was such an eager 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


21 


one, so earnest and inquiring, and although his gaze had 
reverted instantly to his stick, there was such a conscious 
expression on his speaking face, that Charles, frank and 
unsuspicious as was his nature, could not avoid noticing it. 

“ They are anxious to get it, ” he thought, “ and who 
knows but I may get another hundred ?” 

“Won’t you give five hundred?” he asked. 

Now, Messrs. Sharp and Sligh knew very well what they 
were about, although the oil mania was as yet confined to 
a very few individuals, and they would gladly have paid 
Mr. Lee on the spot five times the price which he so timidly 
asked, but they feared to say “yes” too readily to the 
young man’s question. 

“Will you take it?” Sharp asked. 

“Make me an offer, gentlemen, if you want the land.” 

The two men consulted apart, and whispered and shook 
their heads, and seemed to debate very earnestly, and 
finally Sharp came forward, and Sligh, calling him back 
said, very loudly : 

“I don’t care, Sharp. I’ll risk it if you think best, 
though, mind, I tell you I think it’s too much. And if it 
don’t pay, you mustn’t blame me.” 

“Very well, then; we’ll give the five hundred, Mr. Lee. 
What do you say — yes or no. I don’t care three ftps 
about it.” 

What a fortune was here ! But still the faces of the 
speculators belied their words, and Charley hesitated. 

“ They certainly want it, ” he thought, “ and may stand 
another turn of the screw.” 

But he feared that he was an unreasonable, extortionate 
fellow, and that he should lose a good thing by being too 
avaricious. 

“I’ll think of it,” he said, “and let you know this even- 
ing. I’m going to stop at Captain Smith’s, if I can find the 
place. Do you know where it is? He’s a farmer somewhere 
in this neighborhood, who keeps a kind of inn.” 

The men exchanged glances, and exhibited some alarm. 
There were a dozen speculators stopping at Smith’s, who 
had been prospecting for oil in the neighborhood, and they 
knew all about the ownership of it. It would never do to 
let the young man go there. ” 

“We can’t wait till evening,” said Sharp. “We’ll go on 
South, to the other place that I spoke of. It’s only about 
fifteen miles from here ; unless you choose to strike a bar- 
gain at five hundred.” 

Charley hesitated, and they saw it. 


22 


ROXY HASTINGS. ’ 


“ Cash down,” continued Sharp, “as soon as the deed is 
signed.” 

“Oh, throw in another fifty,” said Sligh, “rather than 
dally all day. Not that I think it worth it, for I don’t. 
But I want to be off. ” 

“Well, five hundred and fifty it is, then. There’s an 
offer for you as is an offer, young man.” 

Yes, and there was the same eager look. 

Charley held back. 

“Come to Smith’s this evening,” he said, “and we’ll 
talk it over. I think I’ll do it.” 

“Well, not to Smith’s. Go with us to Mr. Booke’s. It’s 
nearer, and he’s an acquaintance of mine. We shall stop 
there if we stay over night. ” 

“Has he room?” 

“Ob, plenty! I’ll see to that. He’ll give you the best 
room in his house for half a dollar. ” 

“I want to look over the land a little first, for I have 
only seen a small part of it.” 

“We’ll go with you, then,” was the quick reply, “for we 
know the lines on three sides, and as to the other, we can 
guess pretty well at that, knowing the number of acres.” 

“Yes.” 

“It crosses the creek, I believe.” 

“Yes, so I understand, and runs up a little beyond the 
ridge on the other side.” 

They went, Sharp leading, and carefully avoiding as far 
as possible all the places which gave evidence of the liquid 
treasure beneath the soil. He kept away from the creek, 
the surface of which, in little nooks out of the current, 
was many-hued with the oleaginous matter, or if compelled 
to pass these spots, he talked loudly on other topics, pointed 
out distant views, and hurried the simple youth along. 

There were springs on the hillside still more distinctly 
marked, and redolent with the offensive odor of petroleum, 
and these also the speculator carefully shunned. With still 
greater care did he avoid the vicinity of an old salt well 
just on the Bingham side of the line, which infected the 
air for a rood around with the gas which it belched forth, 
proclaiming the pent-up fountains which a near future 
was to unseal. 

Sharp talked about wood ; was wise on timber and fuel, 
and descanted upon how much he hoped to realize per cord 
for the trees, when, by the aid of much capital and labor, 
he had felled them, and brought them to market. 

“I think it will yield a fair profit to a farmer like me,” 


BOXY HASTINGS: 


23 


he said, “but, you see, it’s worth nothing to a city man 
like you unless you've got capital and leisure, and can 
come here and give your time to it.” 

“I see. Father owned it fifteen years. 

“ Just so — and never got a dollar off it, and had to pay 
taxes on it every year.” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, there’s where it is. It’s worth a little to me 
nothing to you. Come, now we’ve seen it, let’s go down 
to Rooke’s and get our supper and decide on something, 
yes or no. I want to get early to bed, and be off to-morrow 

^They ^went, accompanied, of course, by Sligh who had 
followed them, whittling and listening, all over the land. 
Charley had at last made up his mind to sell. 

“ is there any one about here who could make out a deed 
for us, if we should close the bargain? he asked. 

“Oh ves • I believe Rooke is or has been a Justice ot the 
Peace/and they do such things in the country here. I 
can do it myself— I’d take the risk. Only we want a de- 

can%S tot” from my father’s deed to me, 
which I brought with me. You can see I came down here 

0I1 “ Ohfthenwe’ll be all right. I can make the new con- 
veyance in a jiffy ; for if we can’t get blanks l can just 
copy the whole from yours, only altering the names 

The speculators were now m high glee, and Charley was 
scarcely less elated with the idea of taking home five 
hundred and fifty dollars to his mother. Why, it was 
nearly equal to six months salary at the place which he 

ha Far 0 mer Rooke was not the man to interfere with a bar- 
gain although he well knew how terribly the young man 
was ’likely to be fleeced. He was a spare, gaunt man 
miserly and famine -pinched in appearance ; and when the 
Peculators had given him the cue, and a promise of a 
handsome bonus for his assistance, he proved to be a veiy 
ready and influential confederate. 

?Youfllsee e ”he e said, ll “it n w t ill stop flowin’ as suddenly as 
it stlrted and tot will be the end on’t. If not, if they 
find more wells, and if it keeps on runnin’ whole rivers of 
it it'll get to be as cheap as water, and won t paj fo 
barrelin’ g and gettin’ it to market. Don t you see « 

Sharp saw, and so did Sligh, 


24 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


“At any rate,” added Sharp, “the Binghams seem to 
have it all to themselves. They’ve struck the reservoir 
where the oil from the coal around here has all settled, and 
they’ll soon have it all up.” 

This conversation was at supper table, where, beside the 
parties who have been named, was the squire’s wife (an 
anxious looking woman, whose eyes wandered from face 
to face of the speakers, and rested occasionally with a 
pitying look upon young Lee), two coarsely clad and evi- 
dently hard-working girls, and a clownish but rather 
humorous son, who was a man of twenty-two or twenty- 
three years. 

“ I know a man,” said Farmer Kooke, “who don’t believe 
this here is coal ile at all. 

“What then?” asked Sharp. 

“ He says it’s the ile that’s put down to grease the axle 
of the ’arth, and that it shouldn’t ought to be taken out, 
because the ’arth will stop goin’ round after it’s all gone.” 

A laugh followed, and the speculators laughed loudest. 

“Let it stop,” said one of them. “I don’t know as that 
would hurt anybody. ” 

“Well, I’ll tell you what I have been thinkin’ ’bout it,” 
said the clownish young man, with a comical look. “I’ve 
read somewhere that the earth was nothin’ but a great 
fish, swimming about in the air, like. Now, mebbe it’s 
a whale, you see, and we live somewhere near the head, 
where the ile is.” 

“Stop your tomfoolery, Joe.” 

“Well, I will, only what I want to ask, is this — that if 
folks keep a borin’ deep wells into the critter, by and by 
mebbe she won’t stand it, and she may take a dive down- 
ward, and then where’ll we all be?” 

Another laugh followed this question, and then Sharp 
asked the justice if he kept blanks for conveyances, and 
knew how to fill out a deed. 

“Oh, yes,” was the reply; “Ido that kind of business 
sometimes. ” 

“I expect we shall want one drawn after tea, if Mr. Sligh 
or Mr. Lee haven’t changed their minds.” 

“I’m getting rather dubious about it myself,” said Sligh, 
and Charley looked quite alarmed. ” 

“Well, the deed can be filled up and be ready,” replied 
Sharp; “nobody is bound till it’s signed and the money 
paid. I’m beginning to hesitate myself about giving over 
five hundred.” 

The deed was made out after a full hour’s labor on the 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


25 


part of the squire, a seal put on, and it awaited only 
Charles’ signature and acknowledgment to make it 
complete. 

While this laborious process was going on the young 
man’s attention had been diverted by a thin, pale, pretty, 
blue-eyed girl of about sixteen or seventeen years, who 
had not taken her seat at the crowded supper-table until 
one of the other young women had finished her meal and 
had made way for her. 

He heard her called Roxy, and he could not be mistaken 
about the air of melancholy upon her features, nor about 
the listless, uninterested way in which she went about her 
work of clearing off the table, as soon as she had finished 
her hasty meal. 

No one seemed to help her in this duty, and in the dis- 
charge of it she passed frequently very near to where 
Charley sat listening and replying to the conversation of 
the speculators. 

His curiosity became awakened in regard to her ; for her 
figure, face, and motions all proclaimed her of a gentler 
lineage than that of the coarse people by whom she was 
surrounded, and whose drudge she seemed to be. 

Several times his eye met that of the young girl, and 
once, when conversation ran highest about the closing 
bargain, she gazed so fixedly and earnestly at him for a 
moment that Charley thought she was about to speak. 
Then her cheek suddenly flushed, and she turned away 
and left the room. 

“We’re all ready now, I believe,” said Sharp — “that is, 
if Sligh hasn’t backed down. He’s a slippery fellow,” he 
added, laughing, “and I never quite know where to find 
him.” 

“I’ll give the five hundred,” said Sligh. 

“And fifty,” said Charley, taking up the pen and dipping 
it into the ink. “That’s what you offered, you know.” 

“Well, I won’t stand about it, since we’ve dickered so 
long.” 

Lee drew the deed straight before him, and Sharp took 
out a roll of bills. 

Something brushed against Charley’s feet, and turning 
about he saw little Roxana, who had re-entered the room 
with a light step, and who had a wisp in her hand with 
which she had made a feint of brushing up some crumbs 
from the door. 

“Did you drop this?” she said, in a sweet, trembling 
voice, at the same time handing to the young man a slip of 


26 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


paper, on which the following words were plainly written : 

“ Do not sign. They are swindling you. ” 

“Thank you,” he replied, reading the words at a glance, 
and then thrusting the paper in his vest pocket. He talked 
a little longer about the bargain, in order to divert sus- 
picion from the girl, and then said : 

“I believe I have not yet passed my word to sell, and I 
will postpone the subject until to-morrow. I will sign no 
deed to-night.” 

The offers rose rapidly to a thousand and fifteen hundred 
dollars, but Lee remained firm, and retired to bed, feeling 
as rich as a prince, and wondering at the strange warning 
which he had received. 


CHAPTER IV. 

ROXY HASTINGS. 

On the ensuing morning Charley Lee rose very early, 
and found Roxy, pale and sad-looking as before, making 
the kitchen fire ; but her eyes sparkled with something 
like pleasure on seeing him, for she knew that he had 
heeded her warning. 

“You conferred a great favor upon me last evening, 
Roxy,” he said, “and be assured I shall not forget it. Tell 
me, now, all that you know about this matter. ” 

“ I will, sir ; and I am sure I am most happy to be of 
service to you, for you seem to have no friends here. 
Only yesterday I heard Uncle Rooke say there was a man 
at Captain Smith’s who would give ten thousand dollars 
down for the Lee land. ” 

“Ten thousand dollars !” 

“Yes, sir ; but I advise you to sell for no such sum. You 
must excuse me if I seem forward, but you are inexperi- 
enced in this business, and I— hear so much of it here that 
I should be very stupid if I did not learn something.” 

Charley began to feel like a school boy in the presence 
of this young girl. Never had he seemed to himself so 
verdant. 

“Pray, donjt apologize, miss, while you are laying me 
under such weighty obligations ; but before you say more 
tell me by what name I may address you — for I am sure 
you have been accustomed to something better than the 
station in which I find you. ” 

“My name is Roxana, sir,” said the girl, stooping down 
and blowing the fire, while the reflection from the red coals 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


27 


lighted up her pale face with a glow which counterfeited 
for the moment the roseate hue of health. 

“You have another name.” 

“Hastings.” 

“Then, Miss Hastings, allow me to ask by what misfor- 
tune you, who have the language and deportment of a 
lady ” 

“No, do not ask me anything about myself, at least not 
now, ” said the girl, blushing, “ for I hear some one moving 
up stairs. I want to finish what I began to say to you.” 

“ Go on, then. ” 

“Do not sell all your right in the land at any price. Re- 
serve a half or quarter interest, and then you will get the 
benefit of the capital which is laid out upon it, and may 
realize many thousands from it every year. Do not look 
so astonished at me, sir. These are not my ideas, but they 
are what I hear every day.” 

Again Charley thanked his fair friend, and assuring her 
that he would profit by her advice, he hastened to quit her 
presence before there were spectators to their interview. 

He remained to breakfast with the Rooke family, but he 
declined further negotiations with the discomfited Sharp 
and his friend, who continued to advance in their offers, 
and who wondered much as to the change in his views. 

At Captain Smith’s, whither he repaired early in the 
forenoon, he found a different class of men, and among 
them the capitalist of whom Miss Hastings had spoken 
a Mr. Ogilvie, of New York, whose frank, straightforward 
mode of dealing was in marked contrast with that low 
cunning and fraud of which he had so nearly been the 
victim. 

“You’ve got a rich tract there, young man, as I presume 
you know,” he said. “I’ve been all over it, and I was 
going back to New York to look up the owner of it. I am 
glad to meet you.” 

Charley was charmed ; but he was still on his guard, tor 
this might be only the semblance of candor. 

It proved otherwise. . 

He speedily concluded a bargain with this gentleman, by 
which he was to receive ten thousand dollars down on ex- 
ecuting his deed for an undivided half of the property , and 
the joint partners were then to form a company for work- 
ing the land, which Mr. Ogilvie told him could not fail to 
insure them both a fortune. 

A fortune ! Had he not made it already ? Lee felt like 
a millionaire when the capitalist — who, business like, 


28 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


declined to take a deed until the title had been examined 
—scratched oft a memorandum of the agreement for the 
young man to sign, paid him a thousand dollars earnest 
money, and agreed to meet him in New York in three days 
to complete the purchase. 

Bewildered by the change in his fortunes, and by the 
prospect so suddenly opening to him, yet resolved not to 
quit the place without again seeing Roxana, and learning 
something of her history, the young man retraced his 
steps in the afternoon to Farmer Rooke’ s, and asked per- 
mission to take up his quarters there until the ensuing 
day. 

This unexpected request was, of course, readily granted, 
the artful host suspecting nothing of the causes which led 
to it, and being willing to make some profit out of his ver- 
dant customer, though baffled in his main design against 
him. 

Charley was rather more reserved in his communica- 
tions now, and Rooke plied him with questions which 
brought only the vaguest answers ; but the squire learned 
the whole story from other sources before night, even to 
the thousand dollars which now reposed in the young 
man’s pocket. But in his turn he now maintained silence 
on the subject, and professed not to know that Lee had sold 
his land. 

Sharp and Sligh had gone to digest their chagrin and try 
their wits in other quarters, so that Lee was not further 
molested by the inquisitiveness of those around him. 

But how should he open communication with poor Rox- 
ana, whose welfare he had so much at heart, and to whom 
he owed so much ? Evening drew nigh before he could 
satisfactorily answer this question, and then he decided 
that he would openly seek the information that he wanted, 
and would try to place the young girl on a better footing 
in her uncle’s family, until such time as he could bestow 
upon her some greater benefaction. 

“Who is this Roxy, this servant girl of yours, Mr. 
Rooke ?” he asked. “She seems too young and feeble for 
her work.” 

“Oh, she ain’t a servant ; she’s my wife’s niece, Roxy 
is. And as to her being feeble, it’s only laziness. She is 
strong enough and smart enough when she wants to do 
anything. ” 

“That is, when she takes an interest in what she does. 
But why does she live with you thus ? Has she no parents ?” 

“She has a mother and sister in Philadelphia, and they 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


29 


are all as poor as beggars. We took Roxy out of charity, 
like, but she wasn’t brought up to work, and don’t take to 
it. She shall, though, if she stays here.” 

“Her father is dead, then?” 

“Yes. He was a shiftless fellow— a music teacher and a 
fine gentleman; always going to be rich; eddicatin’ his 
daugthers like princesses, and then dyin’ and leavin’ on 
’em beggars.” 

“How long has your niece been with you?” 

“ About a year. ” 

“How do Mrs. Hastings and the other daughters get a 
living?” 

“Law knows, I don’t. I believe Anna gives music les- 
sons, and the old one takes in sewing. But wife says 
they’ve got to give up their nice rooms, and go to a tene- 
ment-house, and that then Anna can’t keep her scholars. 
Roxy had a letter from them, and has been crym’ about it. 
She’s been hoping to go and live with them one of these 
days, but she’d better stay where she is, if she knows when 
she’s well off. She’s got a home now.” 

Charley’s mind was instantly made up. He would go to 
Philadelphia next day and relieve the pressing need of 
Mrs. Hastings, and Roxy should go with him if she would, 
and if her uncle and aunt consented. If not he would at 
least bargain for her immunity from menial work, and for 
her being treated as a boarder until her mother or sister 
could come after her. 

Full of these generous designs, he resolved to communi- 
cate them at once to his pretty benefactress, for he felt 
that he had a heavy debt to discharge, and that he could 

not begin too soon. , , , 

“May I see Miss Hastings?” he asked, for it was evening 
now, and Roxy was at her scullion’s work in the kitchen. 

“Miss Hastings!” said the squire, with a guffaw, which 
was echoed by his wife and two daughters in various tones 
“Miss Hastings ! That’s pretty good ! Oh, yes, you shall 
see her, sir. Rachel, call Miss Hastings. 

Rachel giggl©^- und went to the kitchen door, which she 

° P “Miss Hastings,” she said, with a broad grin, “Mr. Lee 

wants to see you in the other room. ,, , 

Roxy came in with her apron on and her sleeves rolled 
up, and stood looking at the company as if awaiting orders 

° f “Please to come in and take a seat, Miss Roxana, ” said 
Charley, handing her a chair. “I want to talk to you about 


30 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


your mother and sister in Philadelphia, whom I intend to 
see to-morrow, if — if you will give me their address.” 

“My mother and sister !” replied Roxy, with a surprised 
and pleased look. 

She took the offered seat, and pulling down her sleeves, 
without noticing the rude staring and whisperings of her 
cousins, she said : 

“You are very kind, sir, to interest yourself in them.” 

“Your uncle has told me about their embarrassment 
and your distress for them. I can relieve them, and I 
wish you to write to them to make sure that they will ac • 
cept the aid which I have to offer. ” 

“Oh, they’ll take all they can git,” said the squire; 
“you needn’t be afraid of them.” 

“They have already suffered the humiliation of receiv- 
ing charity,” said the girl, without noticing her unfeeling 
relative, “and I — what further abasement can I know? I 
will write to them.” 

“Would not you like to go to them?” 

“Would I? Oh, sir, can you ask? I have not seen my 
mother in a year ; it seems ten. ” 

“With me, I mean, to-morrow?” 

“There, stop that,” said Rooke ; “that’s goin’ too far, 
that is. The gal ain’t a-goin’ with you.” 

“I should think not,” added Polly and Betsey, in a 
breath. 

“You are answered,” replied the subdued girl, “by those 
who I suppose have a right to speak for me at present. ” 

“ Are you her guardian ?” Lee asked of the farmer. 

“I’m her uncle, and her nat’ral purtector, sir, at pres- 
ent.” 

“ Very well. If then her mother or sister should come 
for her she can go, I suppose ?” 

“Yes, if they are fools enough for that; but I advise 
you not to be meddlin’ and makin’ mischief in families, 
young man.” 

“ I only seek to benefit her, sir. ” 

“Yes, yes; I know — we all know what it means, when 
a young chap like you wants to benefit a poor girl. ” 

“ I scorn your insinuation, sir, but I acknowledge your 
right to forbid your niece going with me — a stranger to 
you all. She shall not go, then ; but, as she will be sure to 
leave you soon have you any objection to releasing her 
from all obligations to do your household work, and keep- 
ing her' simply as a boarder on the most liberal terms, 


ROXY HASTINGS. 31 

until she is sent for by those who have a right to control 
her movements ?” 

“A boarder ! Ha, ha, ha !” said Polly. 

Again the laugh went around, but Miss Hastings did not 
seem disturbed by it. She watched young Lee with won- 
dering, eloquent eyes, and she listened for the answer. 

“Wal, I dun know. What do you mean by liberal 
terms? I’ll keep her for two dollars a day, and she may 
set in the parlor, and twirl her thumbs all day.” 

The farmer seemed to think he had named a staggering 
price. 

“That will do.” 

“ To be paid in advance for a fortnight, at least. 

“Agreed.” 

“And if she ain’t come for in that time, or if she is 
come for, no matter how soon, and we can persuade her 
mother that this is the best place for her, then things to be 
as they was, and I to keep the money.” 

“All right. Give me a receipt for the money, said 
Charley, taking' out his pocket-book, and counting out the 
bills without noticing the ravenous looks which seemed to 

pierce the pile whence thev were taken. 

“ I ain’t afeard of her mother taking her away, said the 
squire, writing the receipt. “She is glad enough to have 
her off her hands, and in a good home.” 

Miss Hastings did not seem to feel assured herself on 
this point, for, of course, she did not yet know to what ex- 
tent Mr. Lee was able or willing to assist her mother. 

She knew, indeed, nothing of his sale to Mr. Ogilvie, for 
he had had no opportunity to speak with her apart. 

But that he would inevitably profit largely by her ad- 
vice, if he had not already done so, she was certain, and, 
therefore, she was yet reluctant to receive favors from 
him which might be regarded as at least partly her due. 

Not that she was any the less grateful to him for his 
prompt and ready assistance, but it was by reflections like 
these that she soothed her wounded pride. 


CHAPTER V. 

CHARLEY IS ROBBED. 

In Mr. Rooke’s stable, late that evening, a conference 
was held, which might have disturbed the sensibilities of 


32 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


even its equine auditors, if they could have comprehended 
its import. . 

The colloquists were the farmer and his hired man, 
scarcely yet a man in years ; a vicious-looking fellow, who 
was known only by the name of Phil, who did not need 
any very special incentives to an act of villainy. 

It is unnecessary to give much of this conversation. 

“ You want to try your hand at speculatin’ a little in this 
ile business? So I do. There’s fortunes to be made, 
there’s no doubt of that ; but one wants somethin’ to start 
with. ” 

“ In coorse. Any fool knows that,” said Phil. 

“He’s got a thousand dollars in his pocket now, to my 
certain knowledge. ” 

“ Seen it ?” asked Phil, eagerly. 

“Yes, I may say I’ve seen it. At any rate, I know it. 
Tom Ward saw Ogilvie pay it to him yesterday.” 

“ All right !” 

“He don’t need it. He’s rich enough, you know. Goin’ 
to get ten thousand for onlv half of his farm. ” 

“Yes?” 

“ And I shall put him in the room next to you to-night. ” 

“Ha!” 

“He don’t suspect anything. There’s no lock on the 
door between, and I’ve taken everything out of his room 
that he could possibly fasten it with. ” 

“He’ll put somethin’ agin it.” 

“ It opens t'other way — into your room. The door is in 
a kind of niche, you see. ” 

“Yes— well?” 

“ Well, he carries his pocket-book in his coat, in the in- 
side breast pocket. ” 

“Yes.” 

“And it will hang on a chair, probably near the bed. It’s 
the easiest thing in the world to do.” 

“Why don’t you do it yourself?” 

“Well, he might wake up, and then I ain’t very strong.” 

“ But you don’t mean — ” 

Phil’s tone and look, as seen by a dim lantern-light, 
finished this sentence. 

“N — no, not if it can be helped, of course. But if he 
wakes what else can be done? We don’t want to go to 
State’s prison.” 

“Nor to be hung.” 

“No danger, if it comes to the worst. Why, he changed 


ROXY HASTINGS . 


33 


his mind and went off in the night. We can’t account for 
him after that.” 

“ But if he’s found ?” 

“We must see that he isn’t. You know there’s places m 
that gully that — ” 

“ But if he is found ?” repeated the other, gruffly. 

“ Well there was another traveler, a suspicious looking 
fellow that stopped at my house late that night— slept m 
the next room to Lee, and went off before breakfast. He 
did it. Don’t you see?” . 

“Ho ! You’re a cute one, Rooke, you are. ’Tam t easy 
to get the start of you.” 

Charley Lee tried in vain that night to get a chance to 
speak to Roxana in private. He wished to tell her all that 
he had done, and designed to do, and to press some money 
upon her acceptance to enable her to prepare for her ex- 
pected journey. But the morning would answer for these 
purposes, and he resolved to rise early, not doubting that 
she would find some way to give him an interview. 

He was surprised to find that his room was not the same 
which he had occupied on the previous night, and that it 
was a less comfortable one. But Rooke explained on light- 
ing him to bed that he expected another guest, for whom 
he had reserved the other apartment. 

This fiction of another lodger would be every way con- 
venient, and might reconcile the young man to his pecuni- 
ary losses in the morning, provided he escaped the greater 
evil which so seriously threatened him. . 

It was told every where through the house that a traveler 
had called just before dark, a stout, black-bearded man, 
on a bay horse, to engage a room, which he would return 
to occupy at eleven o’clock or after, and that he rode oil at 

a rapid gallop up the ridge road. , 

There was much speculation as to who this mythical 
man was, but Charley took no interest in the subject He 
was only anxious to get off early in the morning to redeem 
his promises to his fair benefactor, and then to hasten 
home, and relieve the wants and allay the anxieties ot his 

beloved relations there. . •, 

Full of these blissful thoughts, he retired to rest, and 
unsuspicious of danger, he was soon lost in sleep. 

Robbery and murder were crimes which seemed to him 
to belong only to some barbarous age and nation, or per- 
haps occasionally to some far outpost of civilization m our 
own land. They were never bug bears to him, for his 
experience had never pointed to danger of that kind. 


34 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


Kooke might have spared his pains in relation to the 
doors, for his young guest had never looked to see whether 
they could be fastened or not. He had closed them for 
decency sake, and had rapidly disrobed, and laid his 
clothes upon a chair near the head of his bed, and being 
naturally a light sleeper, it was not likely that any one 
could remove them without awakening him. 

His room was above the kitchen, and opened into a loft 
of the woodshed, which adjoined the house on the north. 

The loft was Phil’s sleeping apartment, where, in silence 
and darkness, the villain waited, and watched, and lis- 
tened. 

Through a crevice in the wooden partition he could see 
some of the movements of his intended victim before his 
feeble light was extinguished, and when the young man 
had retired Phil could even hear his breathing, and could 
judge of the soundness of the slumber into which he was 
falling by the length and force of his respiration. 

Eagerly covetous of the promised plunder, he resolved to 
take advantage of the first deep sleep of the youth, and to 
secure his spoil, if possible, without awakening him, for 
bad as he was, he preferred not to take life, though he was 
prepared even for that, if Lee should be unfortunate 
enough to awake and defend his property. 

At a little past midnight, when the house was quite still, 
the relentless robber cautiously and silently opened the 
door between the rooms, and for many minutes he made 
no other movement toward the accomplishment of his ob- 
ject. When convinced that this step had attracted no at- 
tention he crept in upon his hands and feet, and made his 
way, not without frequent pauses, to the side of the bed 
where the slumberer’s garments lay. 

Some mesmeric influence must have affected the sleeper 
at this moment, for there was no appreciable noise. He 
suddenly started, muttered some indistinct words, and 
turned over, with his face toward the chair on which his 
apparel had been thrown. Alas for him, if he awakens 
now, or if he tries too long the patience of his waiting foe. 

Clutching with one hand the rope, 'which, if need be, 
was to do a noiseless work of strangulation, Phil waited 
yet many minutes, until the quiet, measured breathing of 
the dreamer was resumed, and then he resolved to end the 
suspense. 

He is beside the chair, he rises on his knees, with face 
averted from the bed, lest his breath should fan the cheek 
of the unconscious man, and he turns the garments over 


ROXY HASTINGS. 35 

until he finds the coat, undermost of all, for it had been 
first removed. 

There was some rustling, which he could not prevent, 
before he reached it, and still more as he fumbled for the 
breast pocket, and drew out the plethoric wallet, and 
again the sleeper moved, and muttered more and louder 
than before. Fully believing that he was awake, Phil’s 
resolve to garrote him was instantly taken, but at that 
moment Lee turned again heavily to the other side, and 
his life was saved. 

j The robber crept out as he had come in, and closed the 
door after him. He then descended the back stairs, and 
went out, and having buried his treasure, returned to seek 
his own rest with no small complacency. He had not 
committed murder, and he felt that he was entitled to 
some credit for his forbearance. 


CHAPTER VI. 

HOW CHARLEY BORE HIS LOSS. 

The farmer and his hired man were both up soon after 
dawn on the ensuing morning, and they met, as before, in 
the stable. 

“He’s alive?” asked the farmer, with some anxiety. 

“ Don’t make too sure of that,” was the gruff reply. “ Go 
look in the gully under the big elm. ” 

Rooke turned pale, and his teeth chattered as he replied : 

“I — I’m sorry for that. I didn’t think it would come to 
that. But it can’t be helped now. You got the money ?” 

“ Yes.” 

“Let’s — let’s see.” 

“That’s buried, too, for the present. Wait a bit.” 

“ Was there a thousand ?” 

“I didn’t count it. How could I in the dark? What- 
ever there is it is all there, safe. ” 

“All right. We are safe enough, but somehow I wish it 
hadn’t been done.” 

“ Oh, don’t you go to showin’ the white feather now, 
after puttin’ me up to it.” 

“I don’t. I only say it would have been better if we 
could have got along without that. I’d give half my share 
to have it undone.” 

“Would you ?” 

“Yes, I would,” 


36 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


“Well, I’ll take it. He’s as alive as you are, and fast 
asleep this minute, I’ll be bound.” 

Rooke grasped his fellow-villain’s hand, and said, ear- 
nestly : 

“ Do you speak truth now ?” 

“ I swear it. ” 

“ I’m mighty glad on ’t. You got the money without 
waking him ?” 

“Yes, but it was touch and go. A leetle more and he’d 
a been done for. ” 

“ But you know I’m to have my half. It was a cheat. I 
can’t stand that, you know.” 

“I don’t want you to. I’m satisfied with half of such a 
haul as that. Only keep quiet, and let it be where it is 
until after he’s gone.” 

“All right.” 

Charley Lee arose early, dressed, and came down stairs 
without learning his loss. He was gratified to find that 
Roxana was up, and not at her accustomed post in the 
kitchen, where one of the Miss Rookes was supplying her 
place, and was making a great commotion among the pots 
and kettles. 

Roxy was reading in the breakfast-room, quite naturally 
and quietly, and the young man hastened to address her. 

“ I may not have another opportunity to see you alone,” 
he said. Let me say what I wish to now. You have done 
me the greatest service. Bear this always in mind, and do 
not feel that you are receiving any thing from me as a 
gift. I have sold half my land only, at a very large price, 
which is to be paid in a few days, after which I shall be 
able to do you justice. For the present I want you to 
take money enough to enab e you to prepare for your jour- 
ney — ” 

Charley was fumbling nervously for his pocket-book as 
he spoke. 

“ You are doing too much, sir, I fear. I do not like to 
take money — certainly not if you are going to help mother. 
I could only take it to send her. ” 

“ But clothes — a traveling dress — you may want some- 
thing of this kind.” 

“ No ; I can get along. ” 

Lee had felt several times in every pocket by this time, 
and began to show decided signs of alarm. 

“ Excuse me a minute, ” he said, “ I must have dropped 
my pocket-book on the floor up stairs. ” 

He went up, but did not return for many minutes, and 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


37 


when he did so he announced his loss without any great 
discomposure. The news spread, and. search was made in 
and about the house by everybody, not excepting Eooke 
and Phil. 

“ I certainly had it out last evening to pay you the 
thirty dollars,” he said to the farmer. “I have not been 
out of the house since. ” 

“Shouldn’t wonder if it had been stolen,” said the other. 
“I didn’t like the looks of that fellow.” 

“What fellow?” 

“ That Thompson that came here late last night. I put 
him in the room next to you, and he went off about day- 
light this morning. Depend upon it, he’s got it.” 

“Like enough.” 

“ I hope there wasn’t much in it.” 

“ Too much to lose. ” 

“ Has anybody seen you receive money since you have 
been here ?” 

“Very likely. A Mr. Ogilvie paid me some yesterday 
when there were a number of men standing around.” 

“ That’s it, then. This Thompson has been one on ’em, 
and he’s followed you here on purpose. I thought there 
was something strange about that man. ” 

“ What kind of a man?” 

Hooke described the phantom robber very circumstan- 
tially. 

“ Which way did he go ?” 

“Toward Captain Smith’s.” 

“Perhaps I’ll come across him,” said Lee, and that was 
the last he said about it. 

The farmer thought he took his loss very coolly. 

“ I sha’n’t be able to pay my bill till I come again,” said 
Charley. 

“No matter, ’t ain’t much.” 

“ And I must find some one to lend me a few dollars to 
get home with. ” 

“ Yes ; Ogilvie will do that. He’s got plenty.” 

“ So he will, if I can find him. ” 

Charley bade Miss Hastings good-by, and begged her to 
give herself no uneasiness about his loss. 

“ It may delay the relief I intended for your mother, but 
it will be for a few days only. ” 

The young man went off afoot, as he had come. 

In the evening Eooke and his man dug up their treasure, 
and took it to their trysting ground, the stable, to examine 
and divide it. Their exultation was very great. They 


38 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


stood at the manger, and Phil took out the roll of bills and 
counted it, laying them down as he did so. They were all 
fives and tens, and not many of those. 

He counted up to seventy dollars, and the roll was out. 
He looked in a frightened way into the wallet, took out a 
five, a two, and a one, from another compartment of it, 
and laid them with the rest, and again looked through the 
book. 

“What does this mean?” he asked, quickly. “Here’s 
only seventy-eight dollars in all. Where’s your thousand 
dollars? No more tricks, Phil. We’ve had enough of 
them. ” 

“ But by thunder ! that’s all there is — every dollar !” 

There was something in the younger robber’s disap- 
pointed look which staggered Hooke, and nearly convinced 
him of the other’s truth. It was presently confirmed. On 
searching the wallet further they found Ogilvie’s check on 
a New York bank for nine hundred dollars, payable to the 
order of Charles Lee. 

They Avere dumfounded. Only one hundred of the 
thousand dollars had been paid in money, and of that Lee 
had already paid thirty to the farmer for Roxy’s board. 
Seventy-eight dollars was all the fruit of their villainous 
plot, for the check was of no more value to them than so 
much blank paper. 

Grumbling and mortified, they divided the small spoils, 
and dismissed their dreams of speculation. 

“ I thought the fellow was cool about the loss of a thou- 
sand dollars,” said Rooke. “Blast him ! I feel as though I 
should like to take it out of his hide.” 

“ Maybe he’ll come back again with a bigger pile. He is 
a greenhorn, and don’t ’spect us.” 

“I don’t know about that.” 

******** 

Charley Lee did not find his friend Ogilvie at the house 
of Captain Smith, but he learned that he had gone to the 
county seat to examine the records in regard to the title of 
the land which he had agreed to buy. 

The young man followed him there— the village was 
about ten miles distant— and found him in the afternoon of 
the same day. 

He had only to name his embarrassment to have it reme- 
died. 

“I have not much money with me,” said Ogilvie, “but 


UOXY HASTINGS. 39 

there are some people who know me here, and I think I 
can get a check cashed. How much do you want ?” 

“A couple of hundred dollars, if you can raise it. But 
less will do.” 

The money was procured without difficulty. 

“I find your title all right,” said Ogilvie, “and we will 
finish the business as soon as I get back to the city, which 
will be in two days at farthest.” 

“ You are still sanguine?” 

“Perfectly. We shall make our fortunes — large for- 
tunes, too. I speak within bounds. ” 

“ I have a favor to ask. ” 

“ What is it ?” 

“That my interest in this matter be kept a profound 
secret ; that you never point me out to any one as your 
partner ; that you act as my attorney and agent, and allow 
me to remain under a cloud. ” 

“Can it be done?” 

“ I think so. My name is a common one, both Christian 
and surname, and it need not be known whether your 
partner is Charles Lee of New York, Boston, or Philadel- 
phia, or to which of the numerous families of that name he 
belongs. ” 

“But your own relatives?” 

“ They know not a word of it, and will not, at present, 
from me. ” 

“Perhaps it can be kept secret. I will do my best, 
though it seems a singular whim.” 

“ I have reasons for it which I do not wish now to di- 
vulge, but I will rely upon your aid.” 


CHAPTER VII. 

A DEBT OF GRATITUDE. 

Mrs. Hastings and her daughter Emily had fought the 
battle of life with uncommon courage and spirit for the 
last two years, but not with striking success. The widow’s 
position was, in many respects, similar to that of Mrs. Lee, 
but her energy and ability to combat misfortune had been 
greater. She had been far more hopeful and sanguine, and 
it was surprising how her imagination would invest the 
most doleful circumstances with something of a cheering 
aspect. 

Although a lady in habits and education, she accepted her 
altered position without any pretext or sham. She took in 


40 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


needlework of any kind openly, and sought it in person of 
employers, while Emily, emulating her example, without 
fully sharing her patience, labored quite as earnestly in 
her own vocation, and submitted to be patronized by low 
people, who were glad to get good musical tuition at a low 
price and call it charity to the .teacher. 

The mother was a tall, spare lady, whose plain features 
were redeemed from ugliness by soft black eyes, which 
Time had not robbed of their youthful light, and by that 
mild and genial expression which true goodness always 
imprints upon the countenance, however rugged the out- 
line. 

Emily, who was about twenty years old, and of medium 
height, had the beauty of good, robust health, and a fresh, 
clear complexion, but lacked the feminine grace and at- 
tractiveness of her younger sister. 

She had, like her mother, indomitable spirit and energy, 
but she could scarcely be meek or uncomplaining. 

“ I thought we were ground down to the dust before,” she 
said, “but it seems we were not low enough. We must quit 
even our two nice rooms and herd with Irish hod- carriers 
and Italian organ-grinders, and all that is lowest and most 
vile. What is it for, I should like to know ? Why are we 
singled out for such a fate ?” 

“We are not singled out, my child. There are hundreds 
of thousands as badly off as we, and many still worse. ” 

“ Nothing can be worse. It is terrible.” 

“ It is hard, but not so terrible. It is wicked to complain 
as you do, my daughter, and I never shall feel confident of 
better times while you are so rebellious in spirit. He 
knows best, and if our lot were a prison or the stake, we 
ought still to think so and to feel resigned.” 

“ I will not complain, then ; I will try to be patient. But 
I shall never be like you. Perhaps some allowance will 
be made for me since I have been taught from childhood to 
look for so much, and now it all comes to this. ” 

Emily spoke humbly and reverently now and her mother 
quickly replied : 

“That sounds better, my love. Do not despair. Our 
new home is certainly not among desirable neighbors, but 
the room can be made very neat and tidy, and we shall get 
along. ” 

“ I shall lose my scholars. Mrs. Proudfit said there were 
so many infectious diseases in those tenement-houses that 
she could not have me coming from them to her children. ” 

“Well, she only paid half price.” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


41 


“ It will be the same with the rest. The pupils themselves 
will be the first to object. Lettie Lumpkins boasts that 
her teacher lives in a stone front on Chestnut street, with 
her brother, and not in rooms like these. I shall lose them 
all. ” 

“Well, they’ve been a great trouble and vexation to you, 
Emily, and no great profit. You can earn almost as much 
by sewing, and we’ll have such pleasant sociable times 
sitting together all the long afternoons and evenings. ” 

“ And poor Roxy ! It puts an end to her hopes. ” 

“Roxy ! Oh, she’ll be married to some nice young far- 
mer one of these days, and perhaps we’ll all go and live 
with her on the farm.” 

Emily said nothing of an undeclared lover of her own, of 
whose sentiments she was well assured, but whom she felt 
that she was giving up with everything else now. 

He was a clerk in a store, without means, though with 
fair prospects ; but she believed and hoped that he would 
lose sight of her when she had descended into this “lower 
deep” of poverty. 

“We have two whole days yet,” said the mother. “Let 
us make the most of our pleasant home while we stay. ” 

‘ ‘ And I used to think these so . dismal, ” replied Emily, 
self reproachfully. “Now I should be too happy to be al- 
lowed to keep them.” 

“ So all things go by comparison, ” answered Mrs. Hast- 
ings. “I have heard it said that the man who is sentenced 
to be hung would esteem it quite a luxury to be shot. ” 

The widow herself became very sad that evening, as in- 
deed she often did, though she usually suppressed all 
manifestations of her dejection. She had had such hopes 
that they were to get along and to have dear Roxy with 
them, and now to find themselves still on the down-hill 
road was melancholy enough. 

Late in the evening Charles Lee came and introduced 
himself, awkwardly enough, but with a radiant, sunshiny 
countenance and a laughing voice, which somehow 
awakened a great amount of undefined hope in the hearts 
of the two ladies, even before his errand was known. 

“My name is Lee, madam,” he said. “I came from Mr. 
Rooke’s, where I saw your daughter, and I — promised her 
that I would call and see you. ” 

“You are very kind, sir. How is Roxy? Did she write? 
How does she look ?” 

The anxious mother spoke quickly, and Charley, smiling 
at her impatience, replied : 


42 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“ She is well ; she did not write, and as to her looks, she 
is so handsome that any mother might be proud of her. ” 

“Dear child ! How glad I am to hear of her ! Did she 
send any message, sir ?” 

“No, ma’am, but I believe she expects you to come or 
send for her within a fortnight, and that she is to live 
hereafter with you. ” 

“She expects this !” said the mother, looking with a sad 
and surprised air at Emily. “How can she, after what we 
wrote? A long and expensive journey, too. It is very 
strange. ” 

“To lessen your surprise then, madam, or perhaps to 
increase it, I will tell you that Miss Eoxana rendered me a 

most timely and important service while I was in , 

•which made me greatly her debtor. ” 

“Eoxana ! How was this possible ?” 

“No matter, she did it, and it is to requite, in part, in a 
very small part, this favor that I am here to-night. ” 

The widow and her daughter were listening with al- 
most breathless eagerness. 

“She, or rather her uncle, told me of your — your slight 
temporary embarrassment — ” 

“Do not be afraid to speak plainly, Mr. Lee,” said the 
widow. “Our embarrassment can hardly be called ‘slight 
or temporary, say rather our deep and utter poverty.” 

“Mother!” 

“ No matter. I am here to .help you, and thus discharge 
a small portion of my debts to Eoxy. You will not object 
to receive at my hands what is thus so justly due to you ?” 

Mr. Lee took out his pocket-book as he spoke, and the 
mother replied : 

“ I know not how to answer you. It is but a disguised 
charity — kindly disguised, I confess, and could not perma- 
nently alter our condition. We have given up our home, 
and shall retire in sorrow to humbler quarters. If it would 
not wound your generous feelings, sir, I must say that I 
prefer the little independence which health and industry 
enable us to earn. ” 

“Eight, mother,” said the low voice of Emily. 

“But I assure you,” replied Charley, “that it is not a 
charity. I actually owe all and far more than I have to 
offer you to-day to your daughter. Besides, it will perma- 
nently improve your condition, for it will enable you to re- 
tain your present home, and to have your loved Eoxana 
with you.” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 43 

“Indeed !” exclaimed the mother, who had expected but 
the offer of a small gratuity. 

“I have only a hundred dollars to spare to-day, but as 
soon as your youngest daughter comes to you I shall send 
her a much larger sum, and hereafter probably still more, 
according to my own circumstances. ” 

“Really, sir, this is something most wonderful, and I 
dare not decline your bounty. Nay, let me say that I ac- 
cept it most gladly and gratefully. ” 

“Don’t call it bounty, madam,” said Charley, delighted 
with his success, and rapidly taking out his bills, “it’s 
debt, debt, debt. Don’t you think there are any debts but 
such as the law recognizes, and could enforce ? I consider 
this as binding upon my conscience as if it could be col- 
lected of me by execution. Exactly ! exactly !” 

He had counted out the money by this time, and placed 
it in the widow’s hands, and he then added : 

“ I have no more time to spare now, but before I go I 
want to tell you that your daughter expects you to come or 
send for her. 

“I will go immediately, or Emily shall.” 

“She is unhappy at her uncle’s, and you cannot take her 
away too soon. ” 

“ Nor can we get her here too soon, Mr. Lee. Oh, how 
happy you have made us. And we shall stay here, too. 
Emily will not lose her scholars. ” 

The tears were coming, and Lee snatched his hat, and 
shaking hands with the ladies, hurried off, and left them 
to the undisturbed contemplation of their new joy. 

The next day, at noon he was in New York, drawing nigh 
his own home in a state of great excitement, which he 
with difficulty subdued far enough to admit of a placid de- 
meanor. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

A QUARTER OF A MILLION. 

Mrs. Lee and Laura were glad enough to see Charley 
home again, though they had a budget of bad news for him, 
which they reluctantly related, since they could not well 
suppress it. 

Their co-tenants of the house had moved away, and their 
half of the building, which they had occupied, had been 


44 


liOXY HASTINGS. 


rented to a low family, who were noisy and intemperate — 
who held late orgies at night, with music and dancing, and 
who had besides commenced a series of petty annoyances 
against the Lees, which seemed to be prompted only by 
spite and ill-will. 

Then Grandfather Todd had fallen down three steps and 
sprained his ankle so severely that he could not go out, 
and there was little likelihood of his being able to resume 
work for a week. He might even be permanently lamed. 

The young man did not seem as much cast down by the 
mishaps as had been expected, for he maintained a very 
cheery countenance, although he by no means proclaimed 
his own remarkable fortune. He had some purposes to 
serve by secrecy, and he resolved that his family should 
profit by his rising fortunes, without knowing at present 
to whom they were indebted. 

He evaded answering their inquiries as to the cause of 
his absence, or only answered jocosely. 

“ As to the house, ” he said, “ we must do something about 
that, and as to grandpa, why — ” 

“We must do something about him, too, I suppose,” re- 
plied Laura, laughing. 

“Yes, that’s it exactly. You see, it’s all easy enough. 
But here’s a little money, mother — as much as four weeks 
of grandpa’s earnings would come to, and we can afford to 
let him lie by awhile. You see, I did not go for nothing.” 

The widow took the twenty-five dollars which were ex- 
tended to her, with evident surprise and pleasure. 

“ Why, what have you been doing, Charley ?” she said, 
“ to earn so much in so short a time ?” 

“Ah, there it is again! Wait a while, and maybe I 
won’t tell you J” 

On the next day Charles received the money on Mr. 
Ogilvie’s note, and on the day after the sale of the property 
was completed, and the balance of the purchase money was 
paid into his hands. 

He deposited nearly ten thousand dollars in an up-town 
bank, where no one knew him, and took out a certificate 
for five thousand in his mother’s name. With this he hur- 
ried home, and, while passing to his room, was intercepted 
by his sister, whose face was all aglow with wrath and 
vexation. 

“They’re building a pig pen in the yard,” she said, “and 
that dirty little Joe says they’re going to have two pigs to- 
morrow. Just come and see ; it’s in sight of the parlor 
window.” 


liOXY HASTINGS. 


45 


“Fact, and in smelling distance, too. Oh, won’t they 
squeak when they’re hungry ?” 

“ But — but we can’t stand it, Charles. Something must 
be done about it. ” 

“Fact. I — I’ll see, Sissy. Keep cool.” 

The brother hurried up to his room, and Laura returned 
to her mother, to vent her fears and vexation about the 
growing pig-sty and about Charleys’ indifference to it. 

The young man spent nearly an hour in his room writing 
and rewriting a letter, which he finally took out to a 
copyist to get it transcribed and directed in an unknown 
hand. 

When this was done he inclosed the certificate of deposit 
in it, and dropped it into the post-office. 

That night the pigs were discussed to a late hour, and 
various remedies were suggested for the threatened evil. 

The widow said she would apply to the landlord in the 
morning, and if he refused them redress, that they must 
look out for other quarters before their month was up. 

“That’s it,” said Charles. 

“But where we are to find them as cheap as this I’m sure 
I don’t know, ” she continued, “ and then there’s all the 
trouble and expense of moving. ” 

“To find something quite as bad in our new quarters,” 
added Laura, despondingly. “We can’t expect much for 
what we pay. Perhaps we can make terms with these peo- 
ple, and bribe them into decency.” 

“We have got so much to bribe with.” 

A heavy sigh responded to this remark. 

“Have you been in the bank, Charles, since you re- 
turned ?” asked the mother. 

“Yes, I looked in to see the boys this morning. They say 
there’s to be a vacancy there in a few days.” 

“Oh, don’t you think you could possibly get it?” 

“ They said they would try to get it for me, but I shall 
not apply myself. ” 

“You will take it, though, if it is offered to you?” 

“Oh, yes. I’ll take it for the present at all events.” 

At breakfast, next morning, there were still further signs 
of dejection, but there was a furtive smile lurking about 
the corners of Charley’s mouth, and a gleam in his eyes, 
which, to a close observer, would have proclaimed him 
anything but a melancholy man. 

“ I shall soon be well enough to go out,” said the major. 
“ To-morrow, I guess, and I can soon earn enough to buy 
off the pigs.” 


46 


&OXY BASftirGS. 


Before breakfast was quite over the postman came, and 
the great event of a letter for Mrs. Lee was announced. 

The widow examined the outside of it, and said : 

“ It’s a strange hand-writing ; looks almost like copper- 
plate engraving, and it has a city post-mark. ” 

Charley choked down a piece of roll, and looked earnestly 
into his teacup while the envelope was forced open and the 
letter taken out. 

Part of a minute more elapsed, and then came a start 
and exclamation from the mother. 

“ Good heavens ! Charles ! Laura ! Either some one is 
playing a trick upon us, or — here is a wonderful blessing. 
Look, Charley, you can tell ; is that — that good for any- 
thing ?” 

The certificate fluttered in trembling fingers as she spoke, 
and passed it over to her son. 

“Five thousand dollars!” exclaimed Charles. “Why, 
yes, mother, this is certainly a regular bank certificate of 
deposit, and is good for that amount of money anywhere. 
Where does it come from ?” 

Laura and the white-haired major were, in the mean- 
time, crowding up to see it, with their separate exclama- 
tions of wonder. 

Mrs. Lee, who had been glancing over the letter, replied : 

“ Why, that is the most wonderful part of it. Listen to 
this letter : 

“ ‘ Dear Madam: — Your husband was my best friend, my earliest and 
my life-long benefactor. To his widow, in adversity, I send this token 
of my gratitude, asking no return except an entire forbearance from all 
attempts to penetrate the mask which conceals your friend.’ ” 

“ Oh, mother !” said Laura, with a joyous yet anxious look, 
“ do you feel certain that it is genuine ? Let Charles run 
with it to the bank, (what bank does it say ?) and make 
sure. How terrible if it should be a hoax !” 

“ Why, Laura, we should be no worse off than we were 
before.” 

“I will satisfy you,” replied Charles, seizing his hat. 
“It is not necessary to go clear up to the bank which is- 
sued the certificate, for that is too far up town. Any of the 
city banks will cash it if it is good. I will take it to the 
Fulton, where they know me. Just write your name 
across the back of it, mother.” 

She did so, and the young man ran out, and after about 
fifteen minutes’ absence came back almost breathless, 
shouting : 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


47 


“All right !” 

Then producing his pocket-book he took from it five one 
thousand dollar bills, and handed them to his mother. 

“There it is, visible and tangible,” he said. “I hope 
you are satisfied that there is no trick about it now. ” 

“ Truly He has remembered ‘ the widow and the father- 
less, ’ ” s£id Mrs. Lee, devoutly. “ But who can be our 
generous friend ? Charles, have you any idea ?” 

“ Are you not forbidden to inquire ?” he asked. “Doubt- 
less he will make himself known at some future time. ” 

“Your father had many warm friends. There was ; but, 
as you say, we will not seek to discover a secret which our 
benefactor is evidently anxious to preserve. We shall 
know some time, if not in this world in the next . 71 

“Oh, I hope I shan’t wake up and find this a dream,” 
said Laura. 

“We can’t all be dreaming,” her mother replied. 

“ Farewell to the pigs !” shouted the major. 

“And to the types !” echoed Charley, shaking his grand- 
father’s hand. 

“And to the blues,” added the widow. “I’ll never give 
way to despair again. ” 

“We’ll have a nice snug little house all to ourselves 
now,” said Charles. “Won’t we, mother? And have it 
neatly furnished. And it shall be in a better neighborhood 
than this. ” 

“Where I can get music scholars,” added Laura. 

“Yes; or perhaps that won’t be necessary. And as to 
grandpa, he sha’n’t do another day’s work until after he is 
a hundred years old.” 

“You think I’ll be old enough to earn my own living 
then, I suppose,” said the major, who, to tell the truth, 
was glad enough to be rid of his self-imposed labors. “ Ah, 
I see you are determined to make a cipher of me again. I 
have been of some use for the last few weeks ; now I am 
nobody again.” 

“You are major-domo here — ” 

“No, I ain’t, I am Major Todd.” 

“Very well, you’re the head of the house, grandpa, and 
you stand in loco parentis to Laura and me. We all look 
up to you.” 

“Ah, ah, my dear boy, I wish I could supply a parent’s 
place to you, but instead of protecting you I have to be 
taken care of myself. ” 

“Never mind. You see you can do it when it becomes 


48 


BOXY HASTINGS, 


necessary. And perhaps old ‘ Incog’ will be around again 
before long with something for you.” 

“Old Incog ! For shame, Charles, to speak so disrespect- 
fully of our benefactor,” replied Laura. 

“Well, let him tell his name, then. What else can we 
call him ?” 

“Mr. Incognito, to be sure.” 

So the happy family rattled on in the excitement ofl 
their first joy. 

Two weeks later they moved into a pleasant house, 
which they had obtained at a moderate rent, and which 
they furnished neatly but not extravagantly, for although 
young Lee’s property might be said to be increasing in 
value hourly, he was resolved to exhibit no outward evi- 
dence of the great prosperity which seemed in store for 
him. 

With Mr. Ogilvie he was preparing to send out an 
engine, a derrick, etc. , with a company of laborers and an 
engineer, to their oil land, for they were resolved to have 
a deep well in operation on their property before forming a 
company and disposing of stock. Some further explora- 
tion had already been made by an agent who had been 
sent on, and who, without much machinery, had succeeded 
in putting down an iron pipe to a considerable depth near 
the salt well which has been spoken of, and which had 
been so carefully avoided by Messrs. Sharp and Sligh when 
conducting the young proprietor over his land. The result 
had been so marked in the flow of oil, which had been 
stopped after a few hours’ experiment, that when the agent 
sent his report home Mr. Ogilvie was offered and refused 
for a quarter of his interest in the property a sum equal to 
all that he had paid Mr. Lee. 

“You could sell out for forty thousand to-day,” he said 
to Charley; “and I will give you five thousand down for 
the refusal of your interest for a month at one hundred 
thousand dollars. Still I advise you not to take it. ” 

“ You will give it?” asked the young man. 

Ogilvie drew his check-book toward him. 

“Say the word, and that instant it is done !” 

“Never mind. I’ll hang on to it, I guess. It looks as 
though it was going to be a sort of an Aladdin’s lamp 
to both of us. ” 

“It will be, sir, it will be ! I don’t want to make money 
out of you. Let us work together. ” 

Dazzled by his prospects, Charley could scarcely keep his 
secret, but his purpose was fixed to do so if possible. 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


49 


When his friends were settled in their new home, he 
went to Philadelphia to see the Hastings family, of whom 
he had thought frequently during the exciting events of 
the last few weeks. 

He found Roxana at her mother’s, very happy and 
greatly delighted to see him, and all were in a state of ap- 
parent comfort and contentment. 

Emily had obtained two new puplis, her mother had all 
the work she could do, and Roxy had a nice job of em- 
broidery which was to command a royal price. How little, 
he thought, is required to help the industrious and those 
who are willing to help themselves, while money given to 
the idle and thriftless is like water poured upon the sand. 

With a little money and a little leisure to bestow upon 
her toilet, Roxy had set off her beauty to great advantage, 
and Charley could hardly realize that she was the same 
person he had seen doing servant’s work in old Rooke’s 
kitchen. 

He thought none the less of her, however, for her mis- 
fortunes, and she, who seemed to regard herself only as a 
child, felt no embarrassment on account of the admiration 
with which he so evidently regarded her. 

“You have made me rich, Roxy,” he said. “ Do you ever 
think of this ?” 

“ You have told me of it so often,” she replied, with a 
sweet smile, “that I cannot well forget it. I am sure I am 
very glad. I heard one of those rascals offer Uncle Rooke 
a hundred dollars if he would help ‘put you through.’ ” 

“Oh, ho! he did, hey?” 

“Yes, sir ! And I have heard him tell before about the 
large price some one was willing to give for the Lee land, 
and when I heard them call you Mr. Lee I began to under- 
st an d ^ 

“Yes, yes. It was well for me that you had your wits 
about you. And then, madam, the sly way she did it. But 
she has told you perhaps ?” 

“Oh, yes ; we’ve had the whole story.” 

They had heard something more from Roxana, which, 
for the credit of the family, they would not tell, and that 
was her firm belief that her uncle was himself the robber 
who had relieved Charles of his money. They would not 
tell that ; but they permitted the young girl to caution her 
friend never to stop at Rooke’s house again, which he very 
willingly promised. 

When Mr. Lee was ready to go away he took out a bank- 
book, and giving it to Mrs. Hastings, said : 


50 


HOXY HASTINGS. 


“You will find an account opened in the Bank of Phila- 
delphia in your name, on which you can draw at such times 
and in such sums as you require, to the amount which you 
see here credited to you. ” 

She looked at the figures and seemed quite overcome. 

“I put this in your name,” he said, “because your daugh- 
ter is too young to have the control of so much money, 
and you are her natural guardian ; and besides I know you 
are a united family, and you will not be apt to differ about 
the disposition of your means. ” 

“No fear of that,” said Roxy, “excepting that we always 
have to scold and fight mamma to make her get anything 
for herself.” 

“I advise,” continued Charles, with patriarchal gravity, 
“ that Roxana be placed at school in your best academy for 
young ladies, and that neither you nor Emily distress 
yourself with excessive toil. I think, for instance, you 
might safely dispense with this kind of labor,” handling 
her needle work. ‘ ‘ I expect to aid you further if my pres- 
ent successes continue. In other words, I expect to pay 
another installment of my debt to Roxana. ” 

The ladies expressed their hearty thanks without fawn- 
ing or flattery, and Lee took his leave with a light heart. 

A month later Messrs. Ogilvie and Lee had one w^ell in 
operation which was yielding a hundred barrels of oil a 
day. They had a company formed, with the stock divided 
into fifty thousand shares, which was eagerly sought for 
at the par value of ten dollars, and our hero, who had not 
parted with a share, was worth a quarter of a million, and 
was still looking forward to grander results. 

“ It’s only a beginning,” said Ogilvie. “ I tell you sir, it’s 
only a beginning. ” 


CHAPTER IX. 

ESTIMATES OF CHARLES’ WEALTH. 

Despite Mrs. Lee’s good resolutions against the blues she 
began to give way to them again. 

“Charles is idle,” she said, “and does not even seem to 
seek a place any longer, and in the meantime we are living 
on our principal, which will soon melt away. ” 

“ Is your money on interest, mother ?” 

“ I don’t believe it is— about eight hundred dollars went 
for furniture, you know, and I have given Charles con- 


MOXY HASTINGS. 


51 


siderable for our rent expenses. The rest ought to be in- 
vested, but Charles seems to be so indifferent. He acts as 
if he thought we. were rich. ” 

“Why don’t you talk to him about it?” 

“I dislike to, but I must ; even his grandfather notices 
it, and talks about going to work again himself. He wants 
a suit of clothes ; he is hardly respectable at church. ” 

“But why don’t you make him take back his money 
that — ” 

“ He won’t take it I have urged him again and again. 
He says we are still poor, and that I don’t know how soon 
we shall spend everything, unless there is something com- 
ing in. He’s right, too, about that.” 

Charley was talked to. He looked perplexed. To be 
sure, here was cause of complaint, and he hardly knew 
what to reply. He began to think of calling on Mr. Incog- 
nito again, but after much reflection he decided on an en- 
tirely different course. He would take his relations into 
his confidence to a certain extent, far enough at least, to 
relieve them from any apprehensions of poverty, for who 
among them was there that would not carefully obey his 
injunctions of secrecy? Why should he deprive them 
longer of so much happiness ? The truth once told he could 
freely supply them with every comfort and luxury, and 
yet without any ostentatious living, which would proclaim 
his wealth to the world. 

Having resolved on this he did not put his purpose in 
immediate execution, but he played a little with the ap- 
prehensions of his friends. 

“I am not quite idle,” he said to his mother ; “I have 
been making some money, and expect to make more. ” 

“It must be in some mysterious way, then. You are 
home half your time. I don’t like so much mystery.” 

“ Do you believe I would do anything dishonest ?” 

“No, Charles, I do not.” 

“ Then if I have enough to support you all, without using 
your money, ought not you to be satisfied ?” 

“Why — yes — certainly — but it would be very strange. 
Do you mean to say you can do this ?” 

“ I mean to say that I have done it so far. I have used 
none of your money for household expenses. Your forty- 
two hundred dollars are invested in government bonds. ” 

“Well, this is better than I expected.” 

“And if anybody wants anything let them say so.” 

“The major wants a suit of clothes.” 

Charley took out his pocket-book. 


52 


HOXY HASTINGS. 


“ Here’re a hundred dollars for the major,” he said. 

Mother and daughter looked in surprise at the money 
and at each other, and the former smilingly said : 

“ Laura wants a new dress and bonnet, and some other 
things.” 

“Here’re a hundred for Laura.” 

“ Mother wa.*ts— wants everything in the way of clothes. 
She hasn’t got a decent garment,” said Laura, whose words 
were by no means intended to be construed literally. 

‘ ‘ Here are two hundred for mother. ” 

Again the ladies exchanged looks and smiles, and Mrs. 
Lee returned to the charge. 

“Your sister ought to have a piano.” 

“Let her select one and order it home. She can have the 
best in the city. ” 

“ Are you in earnest, Charles ?” Laura said, grasping his 
arm and looking close into his eyes. 

“Never more so.” 

“ What does it all mean ? can you really afford all this ?” 

“Yes. Are there any more wants ? Don’t be afraid to 
speak. I’m in the giving vein now.” 

“A — a watch?” said the sister. 

“You shall have it.” 

“And one for mother?” 

“Yes. Anything else ? ” 

“I — I really can’t think of anything else now.” 

“You’ll have to give us time to reflect, Charley,” said 
the mother, laughing. “But I think we’ll spare you for 
the present.” 

“ I don’t want to be spared. I am able and willing to 
give you all that you want — only I wish my secret kept. ” 

“But you have not told us any secret.” 

“Well, all in good time. There is enough said for the 
present. You must guess.” 

“ I guess you have been speculating in stocks, and are 
rich. ” 

“ You are only half right. I have not been speculating 
in stocks, and yet I am — well, I will not say rich, but we 
are no longer poor. ” 

“ This is a wonderful story, Charles, ” said the mother. 

“But not as wonderful as it is delightful,” replied the 
laughing sister. “Now tell me, Charles, are not you Mr. 
Incognito ?” 

“ I am.” 

“ There, mother ! I guessed it five minutes ago. There 
is one marvel less. How could you tell such a fib ?” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


63 


u I told no fib. I told mother that her husband was my 
best friend, and my earliest, and my life-long benefactor. 
Was not that true ?” 

“Oh, yes. Well, can we tell all this to grandpa?” 

“ All of it, but only as you have received it under the 
seal of secrecy.” 

“ Oh, of course.” 

“Let me tell him, ma ! let me tell him! Oh, I am so 
glad.” 

“And now, my son, is not one of the first things to be 
thought of — 

“ I have thought of it daily for the past fortnight. I 
know well what you are going to say. My brother Alfred. ” 
“Yes, yes, yes. It is nearly a month since we have 
heard from him, and you know there have been several 
battles. ” 

“I know, but his name is not reported among the — 
casualties, nor among the prisoners, mother. I have read 
the accounts very carefully. ” 

“ But he would certainly write after a battle. There 
must be something wrong. ” 

“A letter lost, probably. But we shall soon know. I 
have written to the colonel of his regiment, and also to 
Quartermaster Gray, with whom I am acquainted. ” 

“ Is there not some way that he can be discharged from 
the army? You would be willing to pay, wouldn’t you?” 

“Yes, mother, I would furnish two substitutes rather 
than have him remain another month in the ranks. If he 
had a commission it would be different. I have been 
making inquiries about it, and a gentleman who has some 
influence with the Secretary of War told me I could proba- 
bly obtain his release, although not without considerable 
formality and delay. ” 

“ Surely, ma, Charles has not neglected his brother. He 
has done everything that can be done until he gets more 
information. ” 

“ I acknowledge that he has. If he had told me these 
things before I should have been more at ease. ” 

“I kept silent,” Charles replied, “only because I feared 
to excite or increase your solicitude by exhibiting my own.” 

“ He is more thoughtful and considerate than we are, 
Laura,” said his mother, when he had left the room. 
“ Whenever I have reproached him lately, either directly 
or by implication, it has turned out that he was blameless 
and that I myself was in the wrong.” 

“ You know that Alfred is your favorite, mother — ” 


54 


HOXY HASTINGS. 


“No, no, Laura, I do not know it.” 

“Well, we do, or we think so, and we make allowances 
accordingly. At any rate, as he is absent and in the army, 
your anxiety for him is natural, and if it has made you 
a little unjust to Charley, he overlooks it, as I believe he 
does everybody’s faults but his own.” 

“ He is a good boy and a dutiful son. Heaven’s bounties 
could not descend upon one more worthy. Can you make 
any guess at this wonderful secret of his ?” 

“Not the least, and I don’t mean to try. Let us enjoy 
our new prosperity without looking too closely into its 
source. Charles is all truth, and I am willing to take his 
word that all is right. But it is wonderful, and I should 
not be surprised if it turned out that he was worth as 
much as twenty thousand dollars. ” 

“ Oh, no, Laura, not as much as that. How could it be 
possible ?” 


CHAPTER X. 

LUKE. 

Alfred Lee had more than one reason for going into the 
army. 

He was a young man of most ardent temperament, and 
at the time of his father’s retirement from business, solvent 
but poor, he was deeply in love with a young lady (a 
daughter of a wealthy merchant), who was every way 
worthy of his affection, and who returned it. 

Lucy Holden, like Roxana Hastings, was a blonde, whose 
golden hair fell in tresses upon the whitest of necks ; but, 
unlike her, she was tall, and her face, without being as 
faultlessly beautiful as Roxy’s, had more of an intellectual 
expression. 

Alfred and Lucy were not engaged, but the intimacy 
which precedes engagement had been so open and so un- 
opposed by Miss Holden’s parents, that Alfred had never 
entertained a doubt of the successful issue of his suit up to 
the very hour when he proposed for his beloved Lucy, with 
all the confidence of a long encouraged lover. 

It was true that for a week or two preceding this event, 
those dreadful weeks in which his father’s misfortunes had 
culminated, he had noticed a change in the deportment of 
Mr. Mark Holden toward himself— a growing coldness of 
manner which ought to have warned him of impending 
danger. 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


55 


t frank, true heart did not know how to interpret 
si^ns like these. Something had occurred, he thought, to 
ruffle the temper of the father ; but he suspected nothing 
of harm to himself until, like a thunderbolt out of a clear 
sky, the blow descended which was to crush his young 
heart, and was to render, he thought, his future life a long 
blank waste of existence. 

Did ever rejected lover think otherwise in the freshness 
of his grief, or fail to learn afterward that Love’s arrows 
are not poisoned, and that the wounds which they inflict, 
if not persistently nursed and scarified anew, will close 
without a scar beneath the healing wings of Time ? 

Mark Holden was a magisterial man in appearance, 
portly and aldermanic, and his pride of purse he scarcely 
took means to conceal ; but he had an idea of consistency 
which prevented him from suddenly forbidding visits 
which he had so long permitted — nay encouraged. 

But the gentle Lucy had her instructions, and when the 
expected offer came she could do nothing but refer her 
lover to her father, whose opinions she had been taught to 
regard as unquestionable — whose mandate was irreversible. 

“He will approve, Lu,” said the impetuous Alfred; 
“ there is no doubt of that. It is your sentiments that I 
want to make sure of now. Surely, surely, I have not 
misconstrued all your kindness !” 

The signs of Miss Holden’s distress— her moist eyes, her 
pallor, her constraint — proclaimed sufficiently what she 
dared not give utterance to in words. But she drew back 
the hand which her lover offered to take, and said, faintly : 

“ You cannot doubt my regard for you, Alfred, my es- 
teem — ” 

“ Regard ! — esteem ! What terms are these, Lucy ?” 

“Nay, substitute warmer words, if you will, Alfred,” 
added Lucy, coloring deeply, “ but remember that I am not 
a free agent. I fear that our separation is decreed. But 
he will tell you all. Perhaps it is not as bad as I fear.” 

Catching at this hope the young man hastened to see the 
father, whom he found reading his evening paper, in his 
back parlor, and exhibiting his usual self-satisfied and 
complacent demeanor. 

He was fortunately alone, and Alfred made haste to im- 
prove his opportunity. 

“I have sought you, Mr. Holden,” he said, after a formal 
salutation, and in a manly way, “to speak on an affair of 
vital importance to my happiness. I love your daughter. 


56 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


I believe she returns my love — but she refers me to you 
for an answer to my proposals. ” 

Old Mark turned over his newspaper, from which he had 
scarcely removed his eyes during Mr. Lee’s speech, and 
replied : 

“She has done well. She is obedient and dutiful. I shall 
reward her by making her happy with a husband of her 
own choice — whenever that choice coincides with mine. 
Her present one does not. Are you answered ?” 

Raised to a% ecstasy of bliss by the beginning of this 
speech — dashed to earth by its conclusion, Alfred knew not 
what to reply. 

“I have long visited Lucy, and as I supposed, w T ith your 
approval,” he said. “Do not deprive me of the hope of yet 
gaining your consent to our union, if you are not now pre- 
pared to give it.” 

“I have other views for my daughter, Mr. Lee,” was the 
cold reply. “You must dismiss this fancy, as I shall take 
care that Lucy speedily does. I have no more to say. ” 

Alfred retired disconsolate. Lucy could give him no 
hope. Indeed, she was more miserable than he, although 
she considered it part of her duty to conceal her grief from 
her lover. 

A few months later, and soon after his father’s decease, 
the young man, with the reluctant consent of his now im- 
poverished mother, joined one of those regiments of New 
York volunteers which were made up almost exclusively of 
gentlemen. He was impelled to this course by various 
motives, but chiefly by a desire to placate the restless 
spirit which haunted him, and to find oblivion for his grief 
either in the excitement of battle or in the stillness of the 
grave. 

His regiment was attached to the army of the Potomac, 
and he passed through several engagements unharmed, and 
with such marked coolness and daring that his mime be- 
came a synonym for bravery, not only in his own com- 
pany, but throughout the regiment. . 

When a lieutenant of his company was killed he was by 
acclamation pronounced his proper successor, and the 
voice of his comrades was confirmed by those in authority. 

But his military career was destined to an unpleasant 
interruption. . 

In the battle of Williamsburgh Lieutenant Lee was taken 
prisoner, with hundreds of others, and within a few days 
afterward he found himself a tenant of one of the Rich- 
mond prisons. 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


57 


It was a time when no regular system of exchanges had 
been established, and there was a prospect before him of a 
long and dreary confinement. 

His scanty funds were rapidly exhausted in supplying 
himself with a few comforts which he was allowed to buy, 
and after this the privations of a prison life seemed intoler- 
able. 

He wrote home without being able to learn whether his 
letters ever passed the lines. He implored his brother if 
by any means he could spare a little money, and could find 
the means of its transmission, to send it to him to alleviate 
his condition. 

“With money,” he said, “we can buy food and clothing, 
and I am in sad want of both. My stomach revolts at prison 
fare, and I am already becoming thin, though not weak. I 
know you have not much to spare, and I would not ask 
this of you if the emergency were less severe. As it is, I 
ask but little. A very little would be of some service, for 
it would procure me the luxuries of good tea and coffee, 
and tobacco for smoking, and these last delights I think 
would give me a relish for the coarse but still nutritious 
fare that is allowed us. I have a friend that is worse off 
than myself, for he is sick, and nearly helpless. He has 
shared in all that I have bought, but our last drawing of 
tea, and our last ounce of ‘Solace,’ are now gone. We puff 
sometimes at the empty pipe when ennui is direst, or we 
will fill up with pine whittlings, and firing them, catch some 
faint odors from the blackened bowl. 

“ I often regret this college-acquired habit of smoking, 
and am resolved to lay it aide when I return home, but in 
a strait like this it is a resource not to be despised. 

“ Hartley, my friend, will not write home, nor does he 
ever receive letters. Indeed, he is quite reticent on the 
subject of his relations. But do not distress yourselves on 
my account. Send nothing more than you can easily spare 
— for a single golden eagle will work wonders here, and a 
double one I think would make us the envy of our mess. ” 

“ Again — do not worry about me. I said I was thin but 
not weak. Indeed, I believe I toughen as I dry. I think I 
can stand a great deal yet,” 

The letter, of which we have given an extract, was re- 
ceived by the Lees only a few days after the family con- 
versation which has been recorded concerning the young 
soldier, and of course it awakened the deepest interest. 

Nothing else could now be thought of, but how to send 


68 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


aid to the prisoner, whose need they believed must be 
even greater than he had depicted. 

“I will go to Washington to-morrow,” said Charley; 
“nay, I will start to-night. I will get a pass to the front, 
and once there it will go hard, but I shall find some means 
of sending help to Alf. He asks but little, but thank 
Heaven, we have the ability to send a great deal, though if 
I were at the poorest I would send my last dollar. ” 

So said they all. 

“Perhaps,” said the mother, eagerly, “if you can get a 
considerable sum to him he can use it in some way to 
effect his release. ” 

“I have thought of that, too,” the brother replied. “Be 
assured I shall send no small amount, if there is a way to 
transmit it in safety.” 

“ How much, Charley, how much ?” asked Laura. 

“ A thousand certainly ; two thousand, perhaps, in gold, 
which will be equal to many thousands in currency there. 
Whatever can be safely sent, and all that he is likely to 
need.” 

Charley procured some valuable letters of introduction 
to public men at Washington and in the army, setting 
forth the object of his mission, and he had no difficulty in 
procuring a pass to the army, which was then on the banks 
of the Chickahominy. 

He sought out the regiment to which his brother had be- 
longed, and communicated his errand to its colonel, who 
proved easily accessible and friendly, and manifested no 
little interest in the welfare of Lieutenant Lee. 

But he was surprised at Charley’s project of sending so 
large an amount of money to his brother, and did not seem 
to think it quite feasible. 

“There are occasional flags of truce,” he said, “and you 
might, perhaps, make some arrangement with the bearers 
of these, to have your money transmitted to your brother. 
But they do not go to Richmond, of course, so it would 
have to pass through a number of hands, and would be 
liable to a great many contingencies. It is a great deal to 
risk on such an uncertainty, and I would not advise it. ” 

“ I will risk it,” was the prompt reply ; “only show me 
how it can be done. ” 

“Go to General McClellan’s headquarters; show him 
your letters ; tell him your errand, and ask permission to 
arrange your business with the first flag that comes into 
our lines.” 

Mr. Lee followed the advice and easily obtained the re- 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


50 


quisite permission — though not unaccompanied by a repe- 
tition of the warning which the colonel had given him as 
to the risk of losing his money. 

U I might send you under flag into the enemy’s lines,” 
said the general, “ but of course you could go no farther 
than the commanding general’s headquarters, to whom 
your business would have to be made known. I doubt 
whether he would consent to your request, as the trans- 
mission of so large a sum to a single prisoner would excite 
suspicion as to the object for which it was intended.” 

“Thank you, I will wait,” replied Lee, “and try a secret 
negotiation with some of the flag bearers. ” 

He did so. He was permitted to remain in the camp 
with the New York regiment with which his brother had 
been connected, and daily to visit headquarters. On the 
fourth day a flag was received to ask the privilege of dis- 
interring and removing the body of an officer, who had 
died of his wounds. 

With the military men who came on this errand there 
was a young surgeon by the name of Pickard, whose face 
and demeanor impressed Lee favorably, and he watched 
his opportunity for obtaining an interview with him and 
making known his wishes. 

Pickard, though surprised, saw no objection to the under- 
taking, which he said he would further as far as he could. 

“I cannot go to the city myself,” he said, “for I have 
lately had a furlough, but I think I could send it safely, 
especially if the value of the package be kept secret. ” 

“ Yet your messenger ought to know it, to induce care- 
fulness. ” 

“Very true. Among the licensed venders *who come 
daily within the lines from the city there is an old negro by 
the name of Luke, the soul of honesty and good faith, who 
would be glad to earn a few dollars in that way. The money 
would be as safe in his hands as in your own, provided his 
possession of such a treasure was unknown to others. 
Therefore, if you conclude to send it say nothing to any of 
our men here, for the story will be very sure to spread.” 
w “ I will send it, of course, and am most happy of the 
chance. I will bring you the parcel in an hour, and with 
it twenty dollars for Luke, which you can pay him at your 
discretion, either before or after his errand is done.” 

“ It is very liberal. I will pay him half down, and the 
remainder when he brings me your brother’s receipt for 
the package.” 

“ All right, ” said Charley, gleefully. “ And now for your- 


60 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


self. The favor you confer on me is very great, and if you 
will allow me to compensate you — ” 

“Thank you,” replied Pickard, with a smile, but putting 
up deprecating hands ; “ I can accept nothing for such a 
service.” 

“ I am very sorry. I do not think you ought to object. 
But you will at least take this memento of our meeting,” 
he said, unfastening a valuable diamond pin and present- 
ing it to the surgeon. “This is but a present.” 

Pickard accepted the jewel, saying : 

“You compel me, sir. You are very kind. I will wear 
it in remembrance of you. ” 

Charley had packed his hundred double-eagles tightly in 
a small buckskin bag, and this, with a letter to his brother, 
he had enveloped in a multitude of wrappers, in order to 
deaden any sound which might otherwise betray the 
treasure to the ear of cupidity. 

The whole came into Pickard’s hands as a brown paper 
parcel, secured with a small cord (sealed at the tying 
point), and directed to Lieut. Alfred Lee, of the — th Regi- 
ment, N. Y. Yols. 


CHAPTER XI. 

FOILED. 

There were twenty prisoners in the room in which Lieu- 
tenat Lee was confined, all being officers with the excep- 
tion of Hartley, who had been a private in Alfred’s com- 
pany, and had been admitted at his request, as an invalid 
friend who needed care and attention which he was will- 
ing to bestow. Louis was a slight, gentle lad, of a feminine 
cast of countenance, but of a stout heart, who never com- 
plained except when some physical anguish wrung from 
him a momentary groan and who, notwithstanding his ill- 
ness, contributed his full share toward enlivening the 
spirits of his comrades and keeping up the general cheer. 

But, despite the implied compact not to succumb, there 
were many drooping heads at times, and moist eyes averted 
from a comrade’s gaze, and short, half suppressed sighs 
proclaiming the suffering which could not be quite con- 
cealed. 

All were suffering some privations now, for the little 
money which they had about their persons when captured 
had been spent in the first month of their confinement for 
articles which had seemed to them then the necessaries of 


BOXY HASTINGS , 


61 


life, but which they soon found to be far from indispensa- 
ble to existence. They had spent it the more freely be- 
cause they had confidently believed that the conquering 
armies of the Union would soon defile through the streets 
of Richmond, and that their prison doors would be thrown 
open by their companions in arms. 

This illusion had ceased to dazzle them now — and the 
pains of “ hope deferred” were added to their bodily ills. 

Louis, partly doubtless, owing to his feebleness and de- 
pendence, but more by reason of his youth, and a certain 
winning air which marked all his intercourse with his 
companions, had become a general favorite. Instead of 
being the only private in the company, one might have 
supposed him to be of superior rank to his comrades, so 
general was the deference to his wishes. There seemed to 
be some mystery about his name, for although it was 
Hartley upon the roll it was observed that often, when ad- 
dressed by that patronymic, he did not respond or seem 
conscious that he was spoken to. 

But “Louis” or “Lewy,” he never failed to hear, how- 
ever low the voice in which it was uttered. 

That his origin was not low was apparent from his per- 
sonal habits, his style of language, and his general intelli- 
gence. Then the delicacy of his features, which were 
handsome even in his cadaverous state, and the diminutive 
size of his hands and feet, hinted somewhat at gentle 
blood. 

He never spoke of his relations if he could avoid it, and 
he so quickly evaded the subject when introduced, that his 
friends decided to come to a tacit understanding that 
Lewey’s home and parentage were forbidden topics. 

He might have gone to the hospital, but he so dreaded 
separation from Lee that he insisted on not being reported 
as seriously ill. Doubtless an appeal in the right quarter, 
if it could have been made, would have secured some com- 
forts and luxuries for him — but the guards with whom 
alone they had communication were surly men, who 
seemed to think their prisoners were quite too mildly 
treated — and who were too covetous of the hidden money 
which they believed them still to possess, to accord any 
favors which were not paid for in advance. 

Alfred and two other of the young men had long parted 
with their watches, but the avails which they produced 
were so small that none of the others seemed willing to 
follow their example. 

Pins, rings, and pocket knives had been remorselessly 


62 BOXY HASTINGS. " 

sacrificed a month before, but now and then some treasured 
souvenir was still offered up to procure some scant favor 
in which the patient was always sure to share. 

“You will have to go to the hospital, after all, Lew,” said 
Alfred one morning, when he saw the poor fellow turn 
loathingly away from both the food and drink which had 
been brought to him. “ This is the third meal you have 
skipped, and there you will at least get medicine, and 
some lighter food.” 

“ I should die there, Alf , I know it perfectly well. I 
shall die here probably, but let me stay. I insist on it — it 
is my only chance. ” 

‘ ‘ But I should reproach myself if — ” 

“No — no ; it is the other way. You will reproach your- 
self if you send me away, and never see me again. I know 
your tender heart. Let me stay. Probably it will not be 
long. Ah ! I did not mean to say that. I think I am a 
little stronger to-day. ” 

Lee made an ineffectual appeal that evening to one of 
the guards, a stout, black- whiskered man, named Hess, for 
a little good tea — a little real coffee — a little broth — for his 
friend — promising to pay liberally as soon as his expected 
remittance came. 

“ I reckon there’s money enough in this room now if you 
choose to shell out,” said the man. “I ain’t goin’ to spend 
my money to buy dainties for you — you may bet high on 
that.” 

While these events are occurring in the prison, let us see 
what had become of that bountiful supply of money which 
had been sent for Alfred’s relief. 

Mr. Pickard proved entirely faithful to his trust. Al- 
though his action was secret it was so only for the sake of 
insuring a safe transmission of the treasure. The propriety 
of sending it he did not doubt. 

Old Luke was surprised when the surgeon opened his 
confidential budget, and he was flattered by the great con- 
fidence reposed in him. 

He gladly undertook the task required of him, and his 
delight was quadrupled when he learned how large a sum 
of money was to compensate his services. 

“I can take de money to Richmond easy ’nuff, doctor,” 
he said. “ Dere ain’t no trouble ’bout dat ; but wedder I 
can put it into Lieutenant Lee’s own hand I don’t know 
about dat ar. And you want me to bring his resate. ” 

“Try a few dollars on the guard, Luke, and if he won’t 
let you in with the parcel you can at least get in empty- 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


63 


handed, and let Mr. Lee know wliat you have got for him. 
He’ll manage it, I’ll be bound.” 

But here a difficulty arose. Pickard wished to reserve 
ten dollars of Luke’s fee until his job was done, and he 
could not change the double eagle which Charles had given 
him. 

“ I’ll get it changed in Richmond,” said Luke, extending 
his hand confidently for the coin, “ and bring back half or 
de resate. Dat will be all right.” 

“All right,” replied the doctor. “Use it if necessary to 
pay your way past the guards, and I’ll see that you are 
made whole.” 

Luke took the parcel, and quickly transferred it to an 
old shackly cart, before which a skeleton of a white horse 
was harnessed, where he placed it in the bottom of an 
empty basket, and covered it carefully with some straw. 

He had no pocket capacious enough to hold it, but he re- 
solved not to leave it for a moment, and as his load of 
fruit was all sold, and it was about sundown, he prepared 
to start at once for the city. 

Among the hangers on at camp was a tall, ugly, free 
mulatto who had been impressed to work on the fortifica- 
tions, had been severely wounded by a fragment of shell, 
and discharged from duty. 

While convalescent he came into the lines occasionally, 
drawn apparently only by curiosity, and, perhaps owing to 
his services and his wounds, was quite a privileged charac- 
ter. From a distance he had chanced to see the interview 
between Pickard and Uncle Luke, and the curiosity it ex- 
cited had been greatly enhanced when he saw the negro 
receive a seemingly heavy package from the surgeon, and 
hasten with it to his cart. 

He followed saunteringly, and seeing that the old man 
was making preparations to start immediately for home, he 
became certain that there was something of unusual im- 
portance going on, and he resolved to know what it was. 

“Give us a lift home to-night, Uncle Luke,” he said, 
without exhibiting any surprise at the other’s movements. 

“ My head is worse, and I hadn’t oughter come out yet to- 
day at all.” 

Now Luke had often extended this privilege to Shem, 
though he bore no enviable character, but he would rather 
have forfeited half of the golden piece which he had in the 
depths of his trousers pocket than to have him for a pas- 
senger that evening, especially as he knew it would be dark 
before they reached the city. 


64 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“ How did you come out yer ?” he asked. 

“With Mose.” 

“ Den you better go back wid him. Old Whity most broke 
down, Shem, and de road’s terrible,” he said. 

“I’ll walk over the bad places, and up the hill, uncle,” 
said Shem, getting in very coolly. “Mose won’t go this 
hour yet. ” 

The mulatto cast some furtive, peering glances around 
the wagon as he got in, and his eyes rested at last on the 
basket and its straw-covered treasure. 

Luke now fully believed that he had witnessed the inter- 
view between himself and Pickard, and that he was going 
with him for the purpose of robbing him by the way, for 
worse things than that had been reported of Shem. 

The old man’s fears were overpowering, and in an agi- 
tated voice he said : 

“You can’t go wid me to night, Shem — and you sha’n’t. 
So dar now. You jis git out, or I go to Cap’n Will, and 
see.” 

Perceiving that Luke was determined, Shem got out with 
much grumbling, and not a few oaths, and hastened away, 
while the sable fruit-peddler, greatly relieved, climbed 
into his wagon, and started his shambling steed at as fast 
a pace as could be got out of such a bundle of bones. 

Congratulating himself on being rid of so dangerous a 
companion, he drove contentedly on, peering now and then 
at his treasure to make sure of its safety, and anon taking 
out his double-eagle and gloatingly examining the prize 
which was so soon to be wholly his own. 

But as he ruminated he saw that it was growing dark, 
and that he was still far from the city, while his horse’s 
pace had subsided into a slow jog-trot, which could not be 
increased. 

Fresh fears of Shem began to haunt him. The mulatto 
had gone off suspiciously easy, and how dreadful would it 
be if he were now on his track, waiting only for a little 
deeper darkness to rush down upon him and bear off the 
great prize. < True, he had no horse or vehicle, but these 
were easily obtained, and an accomplice, too, if Shem 
chose to share his booty with another. 

Several wagons and carts had passed Luke, and he had 
vainly tried to keep company with them for safety’s sake, 
but he soon fell far behind, and now that darkness was 
fast settling upon the landscape he listened with terror to 
the sounds of each new vehicle approaching from the rear. 

His fears were not unfounded. Shem was indeed behind 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


65 


him, a passenger in another peddler’s wagon, and with fell 
intent. But he by no means designed to commit an open 
and high-handed robbery, for his detection and punishment 
would be sure to follow, unless he added murder to the 
minor offense, which he was not prepared to do for spoils 
of so uncertan value. 

His forte was trickery, and he hoped to juggle the treas- 
ure out of the carrier’s hands without endangering his own 
safety. 

The mulatto and his companion came up with the old 
man about a mile outside the city, and as they passed him 
at a clattering rate, Shem leaned over toward Luke’s cart 
and peered closely at its occupant, as if to make sure of his 
identity. 

“ Hat you, Shem ?” asked the fruit-peddler. 

“Yes. Good-night, old boy.” 

“Mighty good-natured all at wonst,” muttered the tremb- 
ling man. “ I don’t know about dat ar. Dat ain’t like 
Shem. He drefful surly. ” 

Shem drove on into the darkness, and soon left Luke out 
of sight. When he and Mose were some sixty rods ahead 
of old Whitey they stopped and both alighted. 

“Quick now, Mose; dis yer wheel,” said Shem, and 
while one raised the hinder part of the wagon the other 
knocked out the lynch-pin, and took off the wheel. They 
then let down the corner of the vehicle, and Mose, by his 
comrade’s directions, sat down on the side of the road. 

“We git dat bundle now jis as easy as nuffin,” said 
Shem, “and I know it’s wort’ a good deal ; ’cause what for 
should Doctor Pickard talk so long about it, and ole Luke 
be so scary about it? You’ll see.” 

Luke came on, and as soon as he approached nigh the 
wrecked wagon the mulatto advanced to meet him. 

“Hullo, Luke, ” he said ; “we’ve had a break down, and 
Mose is awfully hurt. You come and help me git de wheel 
on and git him back in de wagon, will yer ? I tink he’s 
broke his leg. ” 

“Oh, yes, sartain ; I’ll do dat ar,” replied the old man, 
readily, and stopping his horse he clambered out and went 
forward with Shem. 

While he was inquiring of Mose about his hurts and con- 
doling with him, Shem slipped back to the cart — for it was 
almost totally dark — and quickly thrust his arm into the 
basket where the treasure had been deposited. There was 
a quantity of straw, and under it nothing. 

Baffled, but not despairing, he rapidly felt over every 


66 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


part of the cart, until he was reluctantly convinced that 
the bundle was not there. 

He returned very irate and mortified, convinced that 
Luke had the parcel with him, and certain, from its size, 
that he should be able to see or feel it protruding some- 
where from his person. 

The wagon was “righted,” and the wheel put on, with 
the old man’s aid, and then the watchful Shem said : 

“ Lend us yer knife, old feller, to make a lynch pin with, 
which jacket you keep it in?” 

He passed his hand rapidly over the exterior of old 
Luke’s pockets, and other portions of his person, as he 
spoke, but without finding any evidence of the presence of 
what he so much longed for, and convinced at last that he 
was effectually foiled he gave up the contest. 

“ I don’t b’lieve it was anyting more’n some dirty clothes 
for de wash woman, ” he said to Mose, as they drove off; 
“and he’s left it at old Peggy Gray’s as he came along.” 

Luke went back chuckling to his cart, for he well under- 
stood the whole ruse against which he had so successfully 
counterplotted. 

When Shem had passed him in such seeming good na- 
ture, yet peering so closely at him he had been convinced 
that mischief was on foot, and as soon as Moses’ wagon 
was well past he had stopped old Whitey, got hastily out, 
and deposited his treasure in a corner of the zig-zag rail 
fence which skirted the road. 

Then taking notice of some land-marks which would 
enable him easily to find the place again he got in and 
drove on very composedly, until, as has been seen, he 
overtook the artful Shem and his companion. It was a con- 
test of negro cunning, in which honesty had signally tri- 
umphed. 

Luke had no difficulty in regaining his prize, and he took 
care that more than one returning team was interposed be- 
tween him and his covetous acquaintances before he again 
started on his homeward journey. 


CHAPTER XII. 

ALARMING NEWS. 

The next morning Luke obtained admission empty-handed 
to the military prison in which young Lee was confined, 
but not without a serious diminution of his golden guerdon. 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


67 


He dared not go with his precious bundle in the first 
instance lest it should be overhauled and examined, and 
he bargained only for a short interview with the “ lef ten- 
ant. ” 

Alfred listened with astonishment and incredulity to his 
wonderful story, for it seemed to him impossible that his 
brother could have commanded so large an amount of 
money as that of which the negro spoke, or, that having it, 
he should have intrusted it to such a precarious mode of 
conveyance. 

“ You mean two hundred dollars,” he said. 

1 “ Two thousand !” said Luke, emphatically. 

“It can’t be. You have misunderstood — or else your 
doctor there has made a mistake. But no matter. Two 
hundred will be a fortune to me here. 

Luke did not further argue the question, but consulted 
with Lee about the best way of getting the bundle in. 

“Ef I come wid it, dey overhaul it — sah — sure as gun,” 
he said, “ and den dey send word to de provo, and mebbe 
he won’t let you hab it.” 

Alfred reflected a moment and came to the conclusion 
that the old man before him must be perfectly honest, or 
he would not have been intrusted with such a treasure. 

“I’ll tell you what to do, Luke,” he said ; “did you say 
your name was Luke ?” 

“Yes, sah.” 

“ Open the package — take out the gold, and put it in your 
pockets — and bring it to me in that way. ” 

“Yes, I’ll try, sah.” 

“ And if there is any letter or any other small thing 
bring it in the same way. ” 

“Yes, sah.” 

The coin won’t take up much room. You can hold two 
hundred dollars in gold in one hand, and almost shut it at 
that. ” 

“Dere’s more’n that, sah.” 

“There’s some clothes, or something to eat or drink, 
perhaps. If there is, you can bring them along in the 
wrapper, and let the guards overhaul them to their hearts’ 
content. They won’t stop them.” 

“Yes, sah — no, sah.” 

“ They’ll let you in.” 

“I guess so, sah, wid jes sich a key as I had afore,” said 
the negro, grinning. 

“Oh, yes — well, let’s see. I want you to buy me a few 
things of which we are in great need, and that will be an 


68 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


excuse, too, for your coming back. I will make out a list. 
You see we have a sick man here,” he said, pointing to 
Louis, who, much emaciated now, kept his bed the greater 
part of the time. 

Alfred made a memorandum, the leading articles of 
which showed that his sick friend’s wants were uppermost 
in his mind. Quinine, arrowroot, crackers, wine, lemons, 
figs, dates, tea, and coffee, and last, but not least, tobacco. 

He went with him then to the door, and when the keeper 
was summoned to let Luke out he said : 

“Can this man come back in an hour or two and bring 
me some medicine and other articles that he is going to 
purchase for me ? He’ll pay you for your trouble.” 

“I reckon he will if he comes. I ain’t a-goin’ to wait on 
you, openin’ and shuttin’ and lettin’ you in and out for 
nothin. ’ He knows how he can come in jest as he did 
afore, and then he’s got to be searched if he has anything 
that looks suspicious about him. ” 

“All right.” 

Luke was a free man and had a home of his own, such 
as it was, in a poor quarter of the town, where he lived 
with his wife only. He had purchased his freedom from 
his master on liberal terms many years before, paying for 
himself by installments, and receiving his deed of manu- 
mission, of course, only when the whole sum was paid. 

He went home now, where he had carefully concealed 
the package, even from his wife, and opened it in great 
excitement. After carefully removing half a dozen wrap- 
pers, some of paper and some of cloth, he came to the buck- 
skin bag, which again was carefully tied and sealed, and 
on the outside of which a letter was pinned. 

He put the letter in his pocket, then cut the string with 
trembling fingers and poured out the gold upon his bed, 
slowly and gradually, to keep the sound from reaching 
even the ears of the prying Dinah. 

What a large, glittering pile it was, to be sure A hun- 
dred broad pieces, each like the one which he had received 
for himself. He tried to compute its value, but failed 
egregiously, for his arithmetical powers, like those of most 
of his race, were of an exceedingly limited order. 

“ Talk about dat bein’ on’y two hundred dollars !” he 
said. “I should say dere’s about a million — jess about! 
Doctor Packard has been sold. He didn’t know nuffin 
’bout it. Gosh ! but what awful rich fellers dem Yankees 
must be !” 

Although Luke would have considered a quarter of the 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


G9 


sum before him a fortune for himself, he never wavered 
in his integrity, nor dreamed of appropriating a dollar 
wrongfully 

Not even a covetous wish crossed his honest breast. 

“P’raps he’ll give me anoder of ’em,” he said ; but this 
was too dazzling a dream for belief. 

He began to stow the coin slowly in his pockets, and 
when he had filled them all, yet not so far that they suspic- 
iously bulged, he had a large pile left. The remainder, 
after wrapping each piece in paper, to prevent any clink- 
ing, he put in his boots, which had ample tops, and which, 
though very old and many times patched, had no hole 
through which even a tiny golden dollar might have es- 
caped. 

He Tvalked clumsily enough with this strange load, but 
yet not so as to attract attention, for Luke was old and 
often rheumatic. 

He took his cane and a little basket now and went to a 
drug store and a grocery, and procured the s various ar- 
ticles which were named on his memorandum, and then 
with his numerous parcels he trudged slowly prisonward. 

Very slowly he walked, for now and then even his old 
ears caught the faint chime of the coins in his pocket, strik- 
ing against each other. 

He met not a few acquaintances, both white and black, 
who all had a nod and a kind word for the old fellow, and 
some of whom, of his own color, despite his anxiety to slip 
past them, insisted on stopping and shaking hands and in- 
quiring about his welfare. 

“Take care dar. Don’t shake so hard. I’se a little stiff 
to-day !” Uncle Luke would say. 

He kept a sharp lookout in all directions for Shem and 
Mose, but they had gone early to camp as usual, and did 
not trouble him. 

He reached the prison without serious molestation, and 
when his little basket of wares had been overhauled and 
the parcels felt of and smelt of, and some of them punc- 
tured to make more certain of their contents, he was ad - 1 
mitted for the stipulated sum, w T hich he had ready in his 
broad palm. 

Had the hobbling old man been a winged Mercury, bear- 
ing celestial gifts, his welcome from the anxious lieutenant 
could scarcely have been more hearty. 

Celestial gifts ? did he not have them in that old basket, 
blackened with age, which Alfred so eagerly seizes and 
opens, before making any inquiries about his money ? Some 


70 


KOXY HASTINGS. 


crackers for Lewy ; a few fresh figs ; a glass of wine ! 
Heavens ! what treasures had Golconda compared to thee, 
in such an hour ! He fairly tore open the package ; he 
knocked off the neck of the bottle, for want of a corkscrew, 
and he bore the rich contents off to the patient, who was 
stretched helpless on his pallet now, as eagerly 1 as ever 
mother administered to the wants of a suffering child. 

So gratefully, too, did the poor and almost speechless 
boy look up to his benefactor, as he slowly sAvallowed these 
welcome gifts, that if Alfred could have lived a thousand 
years, those eloquent speaking looks would never have 
faded from his memory. 

“To-night, or to morrow at furthest,” said Alfred, “ we’ll 
have larger supplies, and for the general benefit. Just now, 
I want a private interview with my friend here, and you 
must give us a corner to ourselves. ” 

This was cheerfully accorded, and when Luke and the 
lieutenant were alone, the former without speaking began 
rapidly to unload. He disgorged from all parts of his ap- 
parel — from his trousers pockets, his vest-pockets, his 
coat, his boots. He fairly rained gold. Alfred looked 
on in amazement unutterable. 

“Dar! Wot you say to dat?” asked the negro, tri- 
umphantly, when the last yellow coin had been laid down. 
“Ain’t dar two tousand, and a hundred tousand more top 
o’ dat? Hey?” 

Lee, who had rapidly counted the pieces, said : 

“ There are two thousand dollars, certainly, but it’s the 
most wonderful thing I ever heard of. Was there no 
message of any kind ?” 

“Oh, golly, yes. Dere was a letter. I most forgot dat.” 

And Luke pulled out the paper missive, which had been 
sadly crumpled in his pocket under the superincumbent 
weight of coin. 

Alfred hastily tore it open, and read the following lines : 


“In camp of the New York Volunteers. 

“Before Richmond. 

“My dear Brother,— We received your letter of the 10th inst., and 
are much distressed to hear that you are a prisoner. I obtained a pass, 
and came ‘to the front’ immediately after receiving it, and I have 
brought wi th me two thousand dollars in gold, which I shall send to the 
enemy’s lines by the first flag, if I can be assured of any probabilitv of its 
reaching you. Use it freely for whatever purpose required. I can send 
you as much more, and will if you can indicate any safe way of transmit- 
ting it, and can make any use of it toward obtaining your freedom. 

“ You will infer that I have become prosperous, and in such a surmise 


ROXY "HASTINGS. 71 

you will not be wrong, but at present you will excuse me from particulars 
regarding the change in my circumstances. 

‘ ‘ Let it suffice that there is no way in which I could dispense more will- 
ingly of my means than for your welfare.” 

What remained of the epistle was made up of items of 
domestic news, and Alfred, after having perused it hastily 
to the end, stood for a few moments seemingly lost in re- 
flection. 

Then turning to Luke, who was looking on in silence, he 
said, in a low voice : 

“What would you do, Luke, to earn half that money?” 

“Half dat ar? Any ting in de world — dat was honest, 
Massa Lee.” 

“Would you help me out of this prison, and out of Rich- 
mond — if you could secretly ?” 

“Yes, sah ; I would. I’d be glad to help you if I could.” 

“Come and see me day after to-morrow, and in the 
meantime think it over, and so will I. You shall be a rich 
man if you can do it. In the meantime take these. ” 

Lee offered him two of the pieces. 

“I been paid,” said Luke, drawing back. 

“No matter, take these, and come and see me day after 
to-morrow. I’ll see that you get in.” 

The negro went of in a delirium of joy, leaving the 
young lieutenant scarcely less excited. 

It is scarcely necessary to say that Alfred’s roommates 
had a great feast that night, and another the next day. 

The young man spent his money freely for the general 
weal, though without disclosing the amount of his great 
windfall. 

Louis Hartley now began to improve under a generous 
diet, and all were delighted to see the color return to his 
cheeks, and the light to his eye, and to hear some accus- 
tomed sally of wit issue from his yet pallid lips. 

But while our little band of prisoners were felicitating 
themselves on their improved condition a new cause of 
anxiety arose among them. One of their warders brought 
them a rumor that General Halleck, in the department of 
the Mississippi, had arrested as a spy a Confederate officer 
who had been decoyed into the Union lines, while on a re- 
connoissance, and that President Davis had resolved to 
retaliate upon one of the Federal officers in his hands if the 
prisoner should be put to death. 

“He was only a lieutenant,” said the man, “and to-mor- 
rer they’re goin’ to draw one o’ you by lot, and hang him 
jes as soon as they hear that t’other man is hung.” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


72 


CHAPTER XIII. 

THE RAFFLE FOR LIFE. 

At the time of which we write the prisoners in the hands 
of the Confederates were not as numerous as they became 
at a later period of the war, and yet there were large num- 
bers in Richmond, for some of the more southern recepta- 
cles for them had not yet been opened. They were confined 
in various parts of the city, in places of greater or less se- 
curity, but were everywhere, of course, carefully guarded. 

There were no field officers among the little company of 
which Lieutenant Lee formed one, nothing above the rank 
of captain, and their prison was in the second story of a 
stone warehouse, across the windows of which iron bars! 
had been placed, giving it in all respects a prison aspect. 
Part of the lower story of the building was occupied as a 
recruiting station, and was always more or less filled by 
soldiers, and a sentinel was always on duty in the real 
yard, which was inclosed by a high wall. 

On the day after they had been startled by the rumor of 
the new danger which impended over them the tidings 
were confirmed in a way which left them no hope of its 1 
being untrue. 

Their attentive keeper, Hess, brought a city paper, when 
he came in with their rations, and said, as he handed it to 
one of their number, with his finger upon a selected para- 
graph : 

“I don’t want to scare nobody, but there it is, in black 
and white, what I told you about yesterday. You can see 
for yourself. The President ain’t a-goin’ to let your Yankee 
generals have it all their own way, quite.” 

A Captain Hall took the paper and read the following 
paragraph : 

“We stated yesterday that the War Department has au- 
thentic intelligence that Lieutenant Gray, formerly of this 
city, has been arrested as a spy in General Halleck’s de- 
partment of the Union Army, and that his conviction and 
execution are considered certain notwithstanding the lieu- 
tenant did not enter the enemy’s lines voluntarily, but was 
decoyed within them while on a reconnoissance with two 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


73 


of his men. We are happy to state now that the President 
has resolved on retaliation, if Gray is put to death, and 
that he has sent notice of his determination to General 
Halleck. For this purpose an officer will be selected to- 
morrow, by lot, from those in confinement in the 

prison, and he will be hung within twelve hours from the 
time when the news of the execution of Lieutenant Gray . 
is received. ” 

I 

This news was not much of an appetizer to the prisoners, 
who tried, however, to make light of it, and were particu- 
larly unwilling to appear downcast while one of their 
guards remained in the room. 

“How many captains are there here?” the man asked. 

“Nine,” was the reply. 

“They’ll all git off.” 

“Oh! we will, will we?” asked one, with rather more 
signs of joy than a sense of propriety would have per- 
mitted, considering that their exemption nearly doubled 
the peril of each of their comrades. 

“Yes; they take the same rank, you know, and Gray 
was only a levtenant — only a second levtenant, I believe : 
but I am not certain about that. ” 

“There are four first lieutenants here,” said one ; “and if 
they are to be exempt, too, there are only six of us left to 
draw from, Lee ; for Hartley, of course, doesn’t count.” 

“Only six,” replied Alfred. “There must be more in 
some other of the prisons. Why should we be the only 
ones to be put in danger ?” 

“ Perhaps not of that exact rank. They say quite a lot 
of officers were sent off to Columbia, a few days ago. 
How is the thing to be decided ?” he added, turning to the 
keeper. “ Who draws the names, and where ?” 

“Major Hunt says it is to be done right here, so that you 
can all see that it’s fair. And there ain’t to be no drawin’ 
of names, nor nothing of that kind. All there is about it 
is — that they’re jist goin’ to put so many marbles in a hat 
or box, or something, as many as there are of you to draw. 
The imarbles will all be white but one, and that will be 
black, and the man that draws that will swing. That’s 
all.” 

The remainder of the day was spent in dismal fore- 
bodings by the second lieutenants, and in a great state of 
uneasiness by those one degree above them in rank. Yet 
all tried to banish the signs of apprehension from their 
countenances. 


74 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


Louis Hartley was in reality the saddest man among 
them, though personally exempt, so great was his fears 
for Alfred. He thought he had a presentiment that the 
doom was to fall upon his friend, and he tried hard and 
vainly to throw off this idea. 

Louis still kept his bed the greater part of every day, 
and though he was on this day perfectly able to be up, and 
was rapidly recovering his strength, he retained his re- 
cumbent position by Alfred’s directions. 

“We must use a little strategy,” the latter said. “If I 
should be drawn to-morrow, they will doubtless remove 
me to some other place, and perhaps put me in solitary 
confinement. Yet if you contiune sick and helpless, it is 
possible they will allow you to be with me. ” 

“Do not talk of being drawn, Alfred,” said the other, 
“ It is impossible that Heaven will permit it. I cannot — 
will not believe it. ” 

“It would be as hard for any of the rest of these boys as 
for me,” replied Lee, “and they all have as fond friends to 
mourn for them. Life is dear to us all, and of course I 
shall rejoice if I escape. As to Gray being hung, I have 
not a doubt of it. ” 

The night passed wearily away, and Alfred’s slumbers 
were filled with visions of some vast and undefined evil, 
which seemed perpetually about to overtake him. 

When daylight gleamed dimly through his prison win- 
dows he awoke only to feel that his friend’s infectious pre- 
sentiment had passed into his own mind, and to feel some- 
thing like a certainty that he was to draw the fatal ball. 

We have seen that he was not a coward, and that on the 
field of battle none were braver than he, yet the thought 
of such a death as that which threatened him was very op- 
pressive. The scaffold, the halter, ignominy, and oblivion. 
No halo of fame would linger about his memory. If he 
could fall on the battle-field, while the charging shout was 
ringing in his ears, or better still, while the paens of vic- 
tory were resounding through the air— then, oh, then, he 
felt that death might be sweet. But here, such a termina- 
tion to his young life, and his high hopes— the thought was 
sickening — horrible. 

“I will not draw,” he said to Louis. “I feel as if some in- 
exorable fatality would guide my fingers directly to the 
ball of doom. No, let others decide it. I will look on, and 
will try resignedly to take whatever a wise and just Provi- 
dence decrees. ” 

Louis tried to dissuade his friend from his gloomy fore- 


ROXY HASTINGS. 75 

bodings, and regretted deeply that he himself had first, by 
his own apprehensions, instilled them into his mind. 

“ It is wrong to be thus distrustful of Providence, ” he 
said, “and we must foster the virtue of hope.” 

“You are right,” replied Alfred. “I will try to do so, but 
I think I will abide by my resolution not to draw. ” 

“ As you choose. It does not alter your chances, for if 
the black ball remains when all have drawn, of course it is 
yours. But I do not believe,” added Louis, reverently, 
“that any chance is to decide this weighty question. 
Heaven’s decrees have already settled it.” 

“Therefore let us be content,” Alfred added, and his 
manner became changed to one of great serenity. He ate 
his breakfast with zest, and chatted and smiled, with a 
real composure, that amazed those of his companions who 
were in the same peril, and who vainly affected his tran- 
quillity of demeanor. 

Half an hour after their morning meal was finished three 
military officers entered the prison, preceded by one of the 
guard, and not without much courtesy and feeling an- 
nounced their errand. 

One of the first lieutenants eagerly accosted them with 
the question : 

“ Who are to draw ? Men of what rank ?” 

“ Only second lieutenants, ” was the reply, “ of whom we 
are informed there are but six here.” 

“Only six.” 

While the officers made ready for this lottery of death, 
one of the six inquired with a calm voice, yet with blanched 
cheeks, whether anything further had been heard of Gray’s 
prospects ? 

“ Yes, I am sorry to say there is telegraphic news that the 
court-martial Avill probably sit to-day, and that no doubt is 
entertained of his conviction. If convicted it is said no 
threats of retaliation will retard his execution a single mo- 
ment. ” 

“This is bad news, boys.” said Alfred, “but we must 
make the best of it. ” 

“ Our machinery is very simple, gentlemen, ” resumed the 
Confederate officer. “Here are the balls, and this is the 
box in which they are to be placed. ” 

It was not unlike an old-fashioned ballot-box, with a hole 
in the top barely sufficient to admit a man’s hand, and 
seemed to have been constructed for its present use. He 
dropped the marbles in, one by one, and continued : 

“If either of the gentlemen who are so deeply interested 


% 


noxr HASTINGS. 


in this affair wishes to examine the box and contents more 
particularly, before we begin to draw, they are now wel- 
come to do so.” 

The box was passed around from hand to hand, and 
peered into by all, with various remarks of “all right,” “all 
regular,” etc., and one young man, affecting a levity un- 
suited to the occasion, thrust his hand through the aper- 
ture, saying : 

“ Let us rehearse a little. ” 

There was a ghastly smile on his face as he did this, 
which was quickly chased away by a look of unqualified 
terror. He had drawn the black ball. He tried vainly to 
* recall his smile, and sat down, evidently disturbed by the 
seeming omen. 

“ Are you ready, gentlemen ?” asked the officer who had, 
from the first, been the spokesman of his party. 

“ Ready, ” was the general response, though there were 
one or ' two very faint voices among the speakers ; and if 
any stranger to the proceeding had turned his eyes, at this 
moment, upon young Hartley, who sat near the six offi- 
cers, he could not for an instant have doubted that his life 
was one of those which were at stake. He sat, bending a 
little forward, with clasped hands, and with eyes which be- 
spoke the most intense interest, and which turned ever 
and anon toward the windows, and the blue sky beyond. 
He was deadly pale, and visible tremors from time to time 
shook his still feeble frame. 

“Who draws first?” asked the manager, raising the box 
over his head, and approaching the party. 

“I, if you please,” said the young man who had tried the 
unpleasant experiment. “ I want to have it over with, as 
far as I am concerned ; that is if no one objects.” 

No one objecting, he advanced, with a desperate air, and 
thrust his hand into the box, which was lowered a little for 
that purpose, though not far enough to admit of a possi- 
bility of his seeing into it. His motions were very quick. 

He drew a white ball. 

A murmur of sympathetic joy was heard among the 
spectators, and with a look of intense relief he took his 
place among the exempts. 

“ I thought I shouldn’t draw it twice in succession,” he 
said. 

“ Who next, gentlemen ?” asked the officer, shaking the 
box, while the marbles rattled audibly. 

A stout, broad shouldered young man, whose mirth had 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


77 


been usually exuberant, but who was decently grave now, 
stepped up with perfect calmness. 

“I will take the next turn, if my friends are willing,” he 
said. 

They bowed assent, and he drew, with hands that did 
not tremble. 

A white ball ! 

Again the murmur went around, and the new exempt 
passed into the circle of spectators, without any visible 
change of countenance. 

But four marbles were left, and the chances against the 
remaining drawers were increasing in a terrible ratio. 

Many eyes lingered upon the countenance of young Lee, 
who was a universal favorite, and all were surprised at the 
perfect serenity which pervaded it. 

Hartley’s face, on the contrary, was painful to behold, 
so intense was its look of terror. 

A third and fourth now came rapidly forward, and drew 
— each a white ball ! 

“ This is terrible !” exclaimed Louis, springing up, with 
the light almost of insanity in his eyes. “Draw, Alfred, 
draw ! The black ball will be left l” he said 

“Be calm, my friend !” exclaimed Lee, smiling pleasantly. 
“ Death comes but once, and if I am to suffer let us, at 
least, rejoice that all these escape.” 

But if Alfred was composed his last competitor was not. 
He was a young man who had been somewhat of a blus- 
terer in the ranks, but whose courage had been suspected 
in more than one instance. He was as pale as statuary 
marbel now, and both voice and hand trembled as he came 
forward. 

There was a bottle of wine standing upon a table near 
by, for since Alfred had received his money, they had not 
lacked such luxuries, and he stepped up and poured out 
half a tumbler full, which he swallowed almost at a gulp. 

“ Do you prefer that I should draw, Mr. Lee ?” he said, in 
a quavering voice. 

“Yes, if agreeable to you.” 

He looked as if it were anything but agreeable, as he 
fairly rushed up to the box, and plunged his hand through 
its aperture. He drew out a ball, and held it up, with face 
averted, and waited for bthers to announce its color. 

“ White — white — white !” was muttered by many voices, 
and the inconsiderate man clapped his hands in glee, as he 
dropped the unconscious arbiter of his fate upon the floor. 

Louis Hartley’s straining eyes caught one glimpse of the 


78 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


ball, which told so terrible a tale for his friend. He stag- 
gered a few steps backward, and fell into a seat, utterly 
overcome, and nearly swooning. 

All eyes were turned sympathetically upon the man upon 
whom the dreadful lot had fallen, but whose tranquillity 
remained undisturbed, at least as far as outward signs 
could indicate. 

“ I suppose it is scarcely necessary for you to draw, Mr. 
Lee, ” said the officer who held the box, “ as only one ball 
remains. But, perhaps, it is best to complete the cere- 
mony.” 

Alfred drew out the black marble symbol of the fate to 
which it doomed him, and after gazing at it an instant, 
tossed it across the room. 

“ The raffle is over, ” he said, smiling, “ and our thanks 
are due to you, gentlemen, for the considerate manner in 
which you have performed an unpleasant duty. ” 

The Confederate officers severally expressed a hope that 
Lee might escape the fate which impended over him (by 
the release of Lieutenant Gray), and they shook hands 
with him before they withdrew. 

They did not go, however, before informing Alfred that 
as soon as the news of the conviction and sentence of their 
own imperiled officer was received he would be placed in 
solitary confinement to await his end. 

This, they said, was by no means intended as a penalty, 
but was only an additional safeguard against his escape. 

“ What time will be allowed me for preparation for so 
great a change ?” the young man asked. 

“Not to exceed twenty-four hours from the receipt of the 
news of Mr. Gray’s death.” 

“It is short notice,” he said, smiling, “and the end may 
be as soon as the day after to-morrow. ” 

“ Yes, it is not improbable.” 


CHAPTER XIV. 

LUKE AGAIN CONSULTED. 

Louis Hartley was scarcely guilty of pretense in return- 
ing again to his pallet before the withdrawal of the officers 
and the guard, so prostrated was he by the blow which had 
fallen upon him. His nature was affectionate and sym- 
pathetic in the extreme, and he felt Alfred’s peril as some- 
thing too horrible for endurance. 


* ROXY HASTINGS, 79 

Lee had had but one interview with old Luke since the 
day when he came, cased in gold, and then they had dis- 
cussed the possibility of his smuggling into the prison a 
suit of citizen’s clothes, which might serve as a disguise to 
Alfred, if he should ever be able to get outside. Luke said 
that he could easily bring the garments by wearing them 
under his own, but in no other way, as any bundle or bas- 
ket which he brought would be closely scrutinized. He 
was instructed to do so, though there was great uncer- 
tainty whether there would be any opportunity to take 
them off unobserved by some of their guards, who, if they 
did not always remain in the room during the presence of 
visitors, were sure to look in every few minutes. 

The negro was expected again on the day of the 
drawing, of which he knew nothing, and it need not be said 
that the lieutenant looked for him now with greatly in- 
creased interest. 

He had been chary of having Luke come too often, lest 
his visits should excite some suspicion. But he need not 
have feared as long as he was able to pay his very liberal 
entrance fee. The sordid keepers looked for visits almost 
as anxiously as the prisoner. 

Luke did not disappoint his friend. His interest in the 
young officer was very great, nor was he altogether in- 
fluenced by the visions of that shower of gold which was to 
reward him for the liberation of the lieutenant from captiv- 
ity. True, it was nearly a hopeless case— perhaps utterly 
so — but he liked to think of it, dream of it, and imagine 
what he would do when that vast wealth descended upon 
his shoulders. 

Alfred met him eagerly to-day, and in a corner of the 
room unloaded his basket of its supplies. 

“ What about the clothes, Luke ?” he asked, as soon as 
they were alone. 

“ I got ’em, Massa Lee — got ’em on !” replied Luke, with 
brightening and widely-dilated eyes. “ Ef I can only git 
’em off now we’ll be all right.” 

“ Are they old or new ?” 

“ Old, sail — second hand. I bought ’em of a Jew, and 
dey jes about right size for you. Dey terrible tight on me. 
Dere, you see.” 

The old man unbuttoned a thin, brown Holland overcoat, 
and exhibited a dark dress coat of broadcloth, white on the 
seams, and glossy on the napless sleeves, yet well suited 
for the purpose for which it was wanted. 


80 


'! ROXY HASTINGS. 


“ Dat is de coat,” he said. “He pants same color— under 
dese old patched ones — and a silk vest.” 

“ Did you get a white cravat, as I told you ?” 

“ Yes, sah; it’s in my pocket.” 

u Well, I don’t see but one way to get these things off 
you. I will let all my friends into the secret, and have 
them gather around you here, at this end of the room, 
pretending to examine your basket of stores, and while 
they thus hide you you must sit down on the floor and 
strip as quickly as possible. ” 

“Yes, sah.” 

“ I will go near the door— Hess is on guard, and if he 
comes back before you get through I will try to keep his 
attention on something else. ” 

Lee took out a couple of his double eagles as he spoke, 
and clinked them in his hand. 

“Yes, sah. Dat’s de kind o’ bait for him,” said Luke. “I 
nebber saw nobody so greedy for it as he is, sah — nebber. ” 

“ He has had some pretty good bites, and they whet his 
appetite, of course.” 

Alfred found his friends all ready to enter into his plot, 
though his last competitor for the death lot whispered aside 
to another of the second lieutenants that it wasn’t fair for 
Lee to try to get off. 

“They’ll only draw again,” he said, “and it is our inter- 
est to stop him, rather than help him get away. ” 

He was scouted and shamed out of his poltroonery or 
at least out of any further exhibition of it. 

Alfred had himself entertained some scruples on this 
point, and had conversed with several of his friends on the 
propriety of attempting an escape if opportunity should 
offer. They had laughed at his doubts, and told him not to 
hesitate, as they certainly would not under similar circum- 
stances. They did not believe that President Davis would 
order a second man hung after one had escaped by the re- 
missness of his guards, as such a course would be barbar- 
ous and shocking to the moral sentiment of the world. 
But they did not believe that any chance would be offered 
Lee to escape, nor had he more than the slightest hope of 
such a result himself, but he was resolved to exercise a 
wise prevision in preparing as far as possible for any favor- 
ite contingency which might offer. 

But to return to Luke. 

No sooner was he well surrounded than he stooped down 
and began rapidly to disrobe, while Lieutenant Lee, sta- 
tioned by the door, near the opposite end of the room, 


t 


ROXY HASTINGS. ^ ' 81 

listened in great suspense for the steps of the dreaded 
guard. He heard him pacing the hall, and trembled as he 
stopped now and then at the door, though it was only to 
turn and resume his walk. 

But ere the frightened and fumbling negro had quite suc- 
ceeded in getting off his double suit, and while he was al- 
most in a nude state, the terror-inspiring man suddenly 
opened the door and walked in. 

“Ain’t that old boy most ready?” he said. 

“ Oh, yes, in a few minutes. But I want to say a word to 
you,” added Alfred, shaking a couple of double eagles to- 
gether in his hands and purposely exposing them to view. 
“I’ve been looking for you.” 

“Well, what is it? What are them fellows all huddled 
up there for ?” 

“Oh, they’re after cigars out of old Luke’s basket. Let 
them smoke if they want to. ” 

There was certainly smoke enough at the far end of the 
room to make Lee’s assertion probable, and the guard was 
himself puffing at one of a lot of choice Havanas with 
which Alfred kept him supplied. 

“ What is it then you want ?” asked the man, gruffly. 

“Please to come this way a little,” said the lieutenant, 
walking toward the windows which were in the rear, Luke 
and his supposed customers being in the opposite end of 
the room. 

“ I don’t want them to hear what I have to say,” contin- 
ued the young man. 

“ But don’t yer go to offer to bribe me, sir,” said Hess, 
with affected sternness, while his eyes were fairly glued to 
the yellow coin. 

“ Bribe you ! You may tell President Davis himself what 
I say to you if you want to. ” 

“ Oh, very well — go on, then. ” 

His virtue was already appeased. 

“ In the first place, I want to know where I am to be 
confined when I am taken from here. ” 

“ Down stairs— in a small room under here— a great deal 
stronger than this— cross-bars over the windows, and all 
that. ” 

“ Looks out into the same yard, eh ?” 

“ Yes — do you like the view ?” 

“Well, I’ve seen finer,” replied Alf, laughing, as he 
looked into the dirty yard, surrounded by a high board 
fence, and saw the gleam of the sentry’s bayonet as ho 
paced to and fro on his endless round. 


82 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


“ Who is to be my keeper ?” 

“I don’t know. There’ll be two of ’em, off and on, 1 

s’pose.” . 

“ Well, if you can manage to get assigned to that place, 
so you can still let my old friend in to see me, once in a 
while, I’ll give you that !” showing one of the twenty dol- 
lar pieces. . 

“I can get the place easy enough, but I think the provo 
will be around, giving new orders. I don’t believe I can 
git the nigger in there. ” 

“ Well, you get it. I’ll take the risk of the rest. You re 
a clever fellow, and I don’t want a new man over me.” 

The jailer smiled grimly. 

“You mean to say that I’m to have that air piece ef I’m 
one of your ‘turnkeys’ for the day or two that you’re in 
there, whether I do you any favors or not.” 

“ Yes, all other favors to be paid for. ” 

“I’ll git it. I know the provo well. You’ll see, sir.” 

“ And now do you want to earn this other piece ?” 

“Course I do— if I can honestly,” said the man, with a 
greedy look. 

“ As I said before, you may tell President Davis every 
word I say to you. ” 

“Goon.” 

“ I want Louis Hartley, my sick friend, with me, in my 
cell.” 

“ Wh-e-w!” 

“ It isn’t a very small place, I suppose?” 

“No, quite a sizable room, but — ” 

“No ‘buts’ now. You can do it. Louis is my dear 
friend, and wants to be with me to the last, if I am to suf- 
fer. Besides, I want to take care of him, and give him 
medicine, etc.” 

The man looked at the two gold pieces eagerly, and per- 
haps made some mental calculation as to their value in 
Confederate bills. 

“ The provost marshal is your friend, as you say, ” Al- 
fred resumed, “and if he is a humane man, he won’t refuse 
this. It’s only another bed in the room, and we’ll be all 
right. Perhaps it might even be done without his knowl- 
edge. ” 

“No, it couldn’t, only I was thinkin’ that I might put 
him in there nights, if I couldn’t do more. No one would 
know that. ” 

“Well, that would be something, and would be worth 
something, but you will try to arrange it as. X wish ?” 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


83 


“I will, I will.” 

Poor Luke had nearly fainted at the sound of the turn- 
key’s voice, for he did not doubt that he was to be de- 
serted, and that some direful punishment would follow. 
His visions of wealth vanished, and despair nearly para- 
lyzed his powers But he was reassured by encouraging 
voices, and succeeded in getting off the smuggled suit, and 
in resuming his own garments before Lieutenant Lee and 
his jailer had finished their conversation. 

When they came forward they found him standing 
meekly at the door with his basket on his arm, waiting to 
be let out, the clothes* having been caught up, and secreted 
by several of the young officers. 

Disarmed of suspicion, and eager only to earn the large 
reward which had been offered him, the keeper was about 
to depart, when Alfred said, suddenly : 

“ Oh, Luke, you must not go till I have made a memo- 
randum of some more things I want you to buy. He can 
stay five or ten minutes yet, can’t he?” 

“ Oh, yes, but not over ten minutes, for I’m to be relieved 
in about a quarter of an hour, and I don’t want him here 
after the other man comes.” 

“ All right.” 

“ Alfred did want quite a number of articles purchased, 
but what he chiefly wanted of Luke did not go down upon 
any memorandum. 

“Do you think,” he said, “that you could repeat this 
operation to-morrow, and bring me a suit for Mr. Hartley.” 

“ No, sah. I dassent try dat ar agin ; impossible, sah. I 
jis’ ’scape wid my neck dis time. Dey hang me sure as 
dey cotch me at it. ’Sides, sah, it ain’t necessary, sah. Ef 
you get off you get off in de dark night. You come right 
to my house. I hab de clothes dar ready for you, and I 
show you de way out of de city. ” 

“ Perhaps you are right. It might be an unnecessary 
risk. But how can I find your house ?” 

“ I tell you, sah. You go right down to de river— off 
dis a- way.” 

“Yes.” 

“When you come to de river, you’ll know dat?” 

“Why, yes, most likely.” 

“Well, den, you keep along up a stream dat-a-way, until 
yer come to a block of stores— six stores on to der side de 
road. ” 

“Yes, I see,” said Alf, making a pencil memorandum. 


84 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


w Den go on little way, you see four little old wooden 
houses in a row. ” 

“Yes— four — wooden — houses; go on.” 

“No, you don’t go on. You stop dare. De fust o’ dem 
houses is mine. Dare will be a light in de room, up stairs 
in de end toward you. ” 

“Yes.” 

“You’ll know it by de light ’fore you git in sight ov it 
’most, ’ cause you can see it eber so far. I shall keep it 
burnin’ ebery night till you come, or till — ” 

“Till they put out my light,” said Lee, gravely. “Well, 
I understand it now, Luke. Take these, and come again 
to-morrow, if you can. Probably I shall be in another 
room, but this man will be there, and will let you in, I 
presume. ” 

“Yes, sah. Tank you, sah.” 


CHAPTER XV. 

EFFECT OF THE NEWS. 

Alfred had written to his brother in the Union camp im- 
mediately after receiving his letter and money, and he now 
wrote to him again, informing him of his perilous situa- 
tion. 

“You will probably see it all in the newspapers,” he 
said. “ But keep it from dear mother and Laura if possi- 
ble, and if I perish let them think that I fell in battle. Let 
them not know my horrible fate. At all events, keep it 
from them until all is over, for I know that the anticipa- 
tion of it would kill mother, or drive her mad. It is far 
easier to bear these horrors in the retrospect than to look 
forward to them.” 

Early on the next morning Hess came in, with a Rich- 
mond newspaper in his hand, with so cheerful a counte- 
nance, that Alfred for a moment believed he was the bearer 
of good news. He was soon undeceived. 

“Gray is convicted,” he said, “and sentenced to be hung 
to-morrow at noon. ” 

Alfred’s heart palpitated a moment, but he replied, 
calmly, as he took the paper and examined the paragraph 
which conveyed the sad intelligence. 

“It is as I expected.” 

He then read it aloud, with the following addenda ; 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


85 


“ The Richmond Sentinel says that threats of retaliation have been 
made, in case of the execution of Gray, but General Halleck has deter- 
mined that the sentence shall be carried into effect without ref erence to 
any such attempted intimidation.” 

“But I am to be one of your turnkeys,” the man re- 
sumed, betraying the real cause of his satisfaction ; “ it is 
all arranged. I am to be relieved from duty here. ” 

“And how about Hartley?” 

“I haven’t asked yet. One thing at a time. You are to 
be removed after dinner, and before we change you I’ll try 
the provo on that. ” 

“Very well.” 

The “ provo” proved lenient. There could be no harm in 
allowing this bed-ridden young man to remain with his 
friend during the few brief days of existence which re- 
mained to him, and the favor was accorded. 

Whether this was due to the disinterested keeper’s in- 
fluence or to a real commiseration for young Lee, whose 
conduct in his trying circumstances had compelled admira- 
tion even from his enemies, it is impossible to determine. 

Alfred’s parting from his fellow-prisoners was an affect- 
ing scene by reason of the very effort visible on all faces 
to suppress emotion, and to banish foreboding looks. He 
distributed a considerable portion of his money among 
them, forcing it often into reluctant hands, for he knew 
that if he escaped he should have abundance, and if not 
they were most welcome to it. 

He was permitted to remove his stores of wine, medi- 
cines, etc. , and as to his suit of smuggled clothes that was 
already upon his person under his military dress. The 
gold, of which about three-quarters or fifteen hundred dol- 
lars yet remained, he and Louis easily concealed about 
their persons. 

Leaving them now to the solitude of their new prison, a 
room about ten feet square, lighted by a single grated 
window, let us return briefly to the younger brother, whose 
state of mind on receiving Alfred’s letter may easily be 
imagined. It reached him almost simultaneously with the 
same news in the public prints, and with the intelligence 
of Lieutenant Gray’s conviction and sentence. 

Appalled by the magnitude and imminence of the danger, 
he knew not which way to turn for help. How could he 
ever return to his broken-hearted mother and sister if this 
fearful tragedy were consummated — he who had counseled 
and encouraged his brother to volunteer in the army 


86 


ROXY BASTINGS. 


against their wishes he feared, though no voice had ever 
been raised in protest. As to any hope of keeping the 
dreadful news from them, he could not for a moment enter- 
tain it, nay, he did not doubt that they already knew what 
the magnetic wires had given so wildly to the world. 

He hastened back to Washington, faintly hoping that the 
National Executive might interfere in his behalf, and by 
commuting Gray’s punishment save his brother’s life. 
Was it probable? No. Was there time? No. On that 
day at noon Gray was to suffer, and on the next probably 
his beloved Alfred would share his fate. 

In despair of human help his prayers went up moment- 
arily to Heaven that, in some way, its resistless fiat might 
be interposed to stay this mountainous weight of misery 
which impended over so many hearts. 

At Washington he met his frantic mother, who, with 
Laura and a friend of the family, a Mr. Worth had has- 
tened to the capital on the same fruitless errand. 

They were all too late. Gray was already dead, and the 
news of his execution was probably even then in the Con- 
federate capital. 

In convulsions of grief and terror the mother now wept 
out her utter wretchedness on the breast of her son, now 
called on him wildly to rush single-handed to the rescue of 
his brother, and anon threw herself upon her knees and 
shrieked out her piteous appeals to Heaven for that help 
which no mortal power could give. 

It was too terrible a scene to witness or describe, and 
medical aid was speedily brought to lull by powerful ano- 
dynes the tortured mind into a temporary oblivion of its 
woes. 


CHAPTER XVI. 

[the good cheer. 

Lieutenant Lee, while trying to prepare for death, which 
he saw no probability of escaping, still resolved not to fold 
his hands in inaction and passively wait the swift and terri- 
ble doom that was hastening upon him. It would be doing 
something to try to escape ; it would fill up the dreadful 
interval between him and the gallows with hope and effort, 
and if all schemes failed, as his reason told him they 
probably would, the time for torturing Anticipation of his 
fate would at least be shortened. 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


87 


On the day of his removal to the lower room he held a 
long consultation with Louis, who was hourly gaining 
strength, but who kept his bed and simulated great weak- 
ness and exhaustion when either of the jailers was pres- 
ent. Hess, having received his large reward and having 
had some hints that his prisoner’s exchequer was by no 
means exhausted, had become very mild, and indeed al- 
most obsequious in his demeanor toward him. Intoxicated 
with his success, and athirst for more gold, he was partly 
thrown off his guard, and disarmed both of extreme rigor 
and extreme vigilance. 

Late in the afternoon the lieutenant said to him. 

“ The night will be a hard one to get through with. I 
know I shall not sleep, and I want to have a late supper. 
You must get me a few bottles of the best whisky, for this 
wine that Luke brings me is losing its effect on me. Then 
let us have plenty of good oysters, bread and butter, crack- 
ers, etc.” 

“Yes.” 

“ Get enough of everything, and come and take supper 
with us. Perhaps I can induce Lewy to sit up, and eat a 
little of the soup. I may as well take my comfort for the 
short time I have left. ” 

“ Course you may. There’s no use in moping,” replied 
the man, reaching out his hand for the money, which was 
to pay four times over for all that was ordered. “I’ll see 
that it’s all right.” 

“Mind now — I want some of the oysters stewed, some 
fried, some raw ; and don’t forget to have a few pickles, or 
olives, if you can, and some nice celery.” 

“I will. I’ll tell them all.” 

As Hess went out, Alfred called him back, and said, 
very eagerly : 

“ I say, now — don’t forget the celery, and see that the 
stalks are pure white, and long and tender. Just break 
one or two of the stems, and see if they are tender. ” 

“ I will. It shall be all right.” 

The man went off, with the impression that Lee was quite 
a gourmand, and that his whole heart was set on his sup- 
per. 

An hour later he came back, with part of the things 
which had been ordered, and inquired at what hour the 
lieutenant would like his supper. 

“As late as half-past ten, if you don’t mind, I mean to 
sit up till twelve, or after ; it will shorten the night SO. 
Let’s see if there’s plenty of cigars. Oh, yes 1” 


68 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


The supper was served at the appointed time, the cooked 
part of it being brought in from a neighboring restaurant. 

There was a large supply for three men, and one of them 
an invalid ; and, as Alf and his very willing jailer were 
about to sit down to it, the former said : 

“ That poor fellow out in the yard might as well come in 
and help us. We’ve a great plenty here.” 

“ Who do you mean ? Hart ?” 

“Yes; the sentinel there.” 

“He dursn’t leave his post ; but he’d be glad enough to 
git a dram, I’ll be bound.” 

“Well, call him in. It won’t take him three minutes to 
swallow a dish of oysters and take a drink, too.” 

Hart came in, with a look half surly and half sheepish ; 
but, after catching the odor of the savory viands, and swal- 
lowing a glass of such whisky as had never before passed 
his lips, his countenance relaxed wonderfully, and he did 
not seem as much pressed for time as had been expected. 

Having paced his rounds in that dull old ward half of 
every night for several months, without an alarm of any 
kind, he did not think that a quarter of an hour’s absence 
was likely to do any harm, especially as he could peep out 
of the window every other minute, if he chose. 

He ate voraciously, and Hess was not much behind him 
in that respect, and the bottle circulated freely between all 
three, Alf drinking some, and seeming to drink a great deal 
more than he did. 

The table was in the center of the small room, and when 
they were seated about it there was not much unoccupied 
space in the cell, if such it may be called. The jailer sat 
nearest the door, which he had locked on the inside, and 
Alfred was opposite to him, and almost within re^ch of the 
bed on which Louis lay, taking no part in the conversation, 
except by replying occasionally, in a faint voice, to some 
remark addressed to him. 

The bed was near and almost against the one grated win- 
dow. 

“Now, Lewy, don’t you think you had better sit up, and 
try a little good cheer with us, ” said Alfred. 

Lewy thought he had better not. 

“I’ll bring you a little of this delicious soup. Perhaps 
you can swallow that ?” 

“I’ll try.” 

“ Is he goin’ to the hospital, or back to the officers’ room, 
after — ” asked Hart, nodding toward Lee. 

“Tut, tut, man ! Don’t speak about that at sich a time 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


89 


as this, ” replied Hess. “It isn’t a pleasant subject for 
him, you know. ” 

“Course not. I didn’t think. I beg his pardon. ” 

“All right,” said Lee. 

“ Our keeper here has been very, very considerate and 
attentive, and he’ll see, when I’m gone, that I haven’t for- 
gotten him. ” 

Alf looked the picture of good nature and jollity now, 
and a man, who was not very sober himself, would readily 
have believed him to be a little mellow. 

The guards exchanged glances — the one looking exultant 
and the other a little cross. 

“You see, I’ve got a lot of the yellow boys left,” con- 
tinued Lee, suiting his language to his company, “and I’ve 
no way to send ’em home if I wanted to. Another thing 
is, I don’t want to. Why? You ask why? ’Cause there’s 
plenty there. Don’t you see ?” 

“Oh, yes, certainly.” 

“ My friends would rather I’d make myself comfortable 
here, and reward a couple of good fellows, like you, who 
have stuck to me to the last, when they couldn’t do it. 
They’d rather than not, don’t you see?” 

They saw. 

“ And they’re rich, of course, else they could not send me 
so much. ” 

They saw that, too. 

“So, after filling his pockets pretty well,” nodding 
toward Hartley, “ I shall have as much as four or five of 
them pieces,” showing a few double eagles, “for you, and 
for Mr. Shaw, t’other keeper, provided — ” 

“Provided what?” asked Hart, very quickly. 

“ Provided, you see, that I have everything I want up to 
the last, and all that. ” 

“Oh! we’ll see to that,” said Hart, looking greatly 
pleased. 

The covetous Hess, though also delighted, scowled at his 
companion and was dissatisfied that he should come in for 
a share of what he had done nothing to earn. 

But the seeming confusion of ideas in the prisoner’s 
mind, which his speech indicated, confirmed the impres- 
sion that he was under the influence of the liquor which 
he had drank. 

“Tell you what,” continued Alf, after they had eaten 
and drank a while longer, “I believe this whisky’s a little 
too strong for my head, and I think I’ll go to bed, if you’ll 


90 


liOXY HASTINGS . 


excuse me. You can eat and drink, and smoke as long as 
you please,” 

They arose to go, of course, Hess saying he’d have the 
table cleared early in the morning. 

“Here’s something for you to drink my health with, ” 
handing a piece of gold to each, “ and perhaps day after 
to-morrow morning I may as well divide what’s left — that 
is, if the news comes, you know. ” 

“About Gray — oh, yes.” 

“ Because then my time will be short. But probably I 
sha’n’t want much supper to-morrow night — I’ll have 
something else to think of. But we’ll see, and let you 
know. ” 

“All right.” 


CHAPTER XVII. 

THE MINISTER. 

The plot which Lee and his friend Hartley had in view 
was one of too unpromising a character to be attempted, 
except in the last extremity. 

That extremity had not arrived. Gray might not be put 
to death. His punishment might be remitted or commuted, 
and then Alfred would be restored to his former position 
as an ordinary prisoner of war. 

But they were not left long in uncertainty on this vital 
point, for the following day news was received by the Con- 
federate authorities that the sentence against their young 
lieutenant had been promptly carried into effect, and the 
provost-marshal was directed to communicate the intelli- 
gence to the prisoner Lee, and to bid him prepare for death 
on the ensuing day at three o’clock in the afternoon. 

Although these tidings had been hourly expected they 
were startling, ay, almost stunning to both the young men, 
and all Alfred’s dim hope of escape seemed suddenly to 
vanish from his mind. They would not abide the light of 
calm, sober reflection. 

Yet Louis insisted that they should not abandon hope, 
but that they should proceed with the plot, the preliminary 
scene in which had already been enacted, although they 
had little faith in its successful issue. Perhaps they might 
gather courage as they went on, and some unforeseen 
event might occur to brighten the prospect which now 
seemed so shadowy and remote. 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


91 


Luke came with his inevitable basket at about half-past 
nine o’clock, and was readily admitted, even without the 
usual inspection of his load, about which, however, there 
was nothing contraband. 

“Bad news this morning, Uncle Luke,” said the jailer, 
with a half smile. 

“Yes; I heered it outside, Mr. Hess. It’s awful, sah. 
Ise goin’ to see if the young man won’t have a minister.” 

“ Oh, of course he will. They always do that. But it 
won’t be one of your kind, Uncle Luke.' Not a methody.” 

“I don’t know dat, sain Some his relations is Metho- 
dists, sah, and he tinks a good deal ob ’em.” 

Luke went in, and as soon as the key was turned upon 
him he dropped his basket, and with trembling hands 
raised, he said : 

“He’s all ready, Massa Lee, over to my house ; he’s been 
waiting dar all night, and tought he would have to wait a 
day or two yet ; but he’s all ready.” 

“What kind of a man? and what’s his name?” 

“ His real name is Allen, sah ; but the Rev. Mr. Brown 
now, of de Weldon circuit, who come to change with Mr. 
Jenks next Sunday ; but Mr. Jenks not gone yet.” 

Alfred laughed. 

“Dat’s wot he told me to say, sah, if de jailer axed about 
him, when he come.” 

“Well, is he up to trap?” 

Lee had a faculty of suiting his language to his com- 
pany. 

“ Yes, sah. He de smartest fellah. I knowed him ten 
years, sah. Used to be a lawyer, and would been a Con- 
gressman, or somepin’, ony he drinks, sah.” 

“Drinks?” 

“ Yes, but he’s sober as a judge now, and will be till dis 
is over. He was strong Union man when de war fust 
begun, but he dusn’t peep now, ony he told me he’d help 
you, sah, more for your own sake dan for de money. He 
did, sah, and I most believe him. ” 

“ How much did you promise him ?” 

“ Five hundred dollars, if you got off, and one hundred 
anyway. And he says if he gits de big pile he gwine to 
leave off drinkin’, and go inter business.” 

“ All right. And now what have you brought ?” 

“ I brought some little tings in de basket, jis’ for show, 
sah ; dere’s a pie Dinah sent you, and some cakes. Den I 
brought dis black soft hat, zactly like his, and dese shoes, 


92 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


same as his, too, and dese black kid gloves. He says dey 
come out of de same box wid dis.” 

These last-named articles were produced, not from the 
basket, but, from Luke’s pockets, where they had been 
crumpled and compressed into small dimensions. 

“All right.” 

“ And two white cravats, sah, to make your neck big and 
stout, like his, he says. ” 

“ Oh, yes. How soon will he be here ?” 

Soon as I go after him, sah. He waitin’.” 

Louis had listened with intense interest to this dialogue, 
sitting on the edge of his bed, and ready to retreat under 
the cover at the first sound of the turnkey’s approach. 

He and Alfred now consulted together, with pale lips 
and anxious-looking faces, after which Lee said : 

“ He’d better come about half-past four this afternoon, 
Luke. Hess will be relieved now in an hour or so — that 
is, at eleven o’clock. He will be on duty again from two 
till five, and then from eight till eleven. They change 
every three hours.” 

“Yes, sah.” 

“ About half-past four, Luke. That will suit our plans, 
you see. It will be dark, or at least dusk, soon after eight. ” 

“Yes, sah.” 

What the plans, here hinted at, were, may not yet be 
fully disclosed, but that they did not involve leaving the 
“ Rev. Mr. Brown” in limbo, in lieu of the doomed man, 
need hardly be said. 

“ But I forgot, Luke, to ask you about his hair and beard. 
Did you see to all that, as I told you ?” 

“ Oh, yes, sah, of course. He had baird all over his face ; 
looked drefful rough always. He’s had it tookon off, sah, 
everywhere ’cept on de sides, jes Tike yours, as near as I 
could tell him, and trimmed proper nice, sah. ” 

“Yes; and the color?” 

“ Little darker than yours — not much. ” 

“ How about his hair ?” 

“ Most black, sir, but cut close, and de soft hat covers it 
most all up, sah.” 

“Very good.” 

“ There will be no appreciable difference in color in the 
twilight, ” said Louis. 

“ Probably not. You will come with him, Luke ?” 

“Yes, sah.” 

“ Be here at precisely half -past four. Remember !” 

“ I’ll remember. No danger about Luke forgettin’.” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 93 

When he was let out he said to Hess, with some show of 
triumph : 

“ Tole you so, sah ! He goin’ to have a Methodist minis- 
ter, sah, dis arternoon. ” 

“He is, hey? Well, I don’t care. He can have a Mor- 
mon if he wants to. It’s all the same to me. Is it one of 
your color, Uncle Luke?” 

“No, sah. Mr. Jenks, or Mr. Brown, from Weldon. He’s 
stayin’ here, and I’m to git him if I can, ’cause he berry 
good man, and the levtenant wants some one dat can stay 
three or four hours wid him. ” 

“Very well — very well. Go along. He can stay all 
night with him if he wants to, of course. They often do 
that. But he’ll be safely locked up while he’s in there. I 
can tell him that. ” 

Lieutenant Lee and his friend Louis passed the interval 
of suspense in a great state of excitement, and in carefully 
reviewing their plans to see if anything had been over- 
looked. They could think of nothing, yet their hopes did 
not rise much above zero, and, as the hour of three ap- 
proached, their nervous anxiety became intense. 

Luke and his spiritual adviser were punctual to the 
hour, the latter walking beside the negro with slow and 
measured steps, with downcast eyes, and with a Bible and 
hymn book under his left arm. 

“The time is short, as you say. Brother Luke,” he said, 
solemnly, as he came within hearing of the guard, “ but, 
perhaps, not too short for the work of grace in the heart. 
Think of the thief on the cross, Brother Luke.” 

“I does, Brother Brown— I tinks o’ dat.” 

The door was unlocked without question, and the pseudo 
clergyman said before passing in : 

“ I shall probably want to pass the remainder of the after- 
noon with the unfortunate young man inside. Will there 
be any objection to this ?” 

“ No sir. ” 

“ And we do not want to be disturbed by other visitors.” 
“You shall not be.” 

“ And we would like to have Brother Luke with us — at 
least, part of the time. ” 

“Just as you like.” 

The party passed in, and half an hour later— about the 
time of changing guard — the two men outside heard Luke s 
voice raised very high, singing : 

“ The voice of free grace cries escape to the mountains I 
“ Hist, Luke l” said Alfred. “ Don’t sing that.” 


91 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“Golly, I didn’t tink.” 

“Let us accept it as a good omen,” said Louis, cheerfully. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE ESCAPE. 

It is time to explain the plot by which Alfred Lee hoped 
\ — slightly hoped — to effect his escape from prison and 
from death. We premise that no violence was premedi- 
tated, and that what strategy could not effect must be left 
undone. Neither Allen nor Uncle Luke would have risked 
their lives in an attempt to overpower and bind the guards 
— fruitless of any results as such an undertaking would 
probably be, except ruin to its projectors. They sought 
their end by milder means, and hoped, even if they were 
frustrated and detected, that no very weighty punishment 
would ensue. But Allen’s risk was of the slightest, and as 
to Uncle Luke, his attachment to Alfred, and his hope of 
the dazzling reward which he was to earn, made him blind 
and deaf to personal danger. 

“Isean old man,” he said, “and ’tain’t much matter 
what comes of me — long as dey don’t hang me — and dey 
won’t do dat.” 

The plan then, in short, was to apparel Lee as exactly 
like the mock minister as possible, and pass one out under 
each guard. That is to say, the Rev. Mr. Brown was to 
take his departure before Hess returned to his hall duty at 
eight o’clock, and soon after that Hess was to be called 
upon to let him out again, on which occasion it was hoped 
that Lee might be passed through in his stead. 

Hess’ mind had been prepared for this ruse by Allen tell- 
ing him when he came in that he wanted to spend three or 
four hours with the prisoner, and he would not be surprised 
to hear that he was still inside when he returned to even- 
ing duty. 

All hope of success in this plot depended primarily upon 
the relieved guard, at eight o’clock, not informing Hess 
that he had let the clergyman out. This, it was hoped, he 
would not think to do, unless asked ; but on the other hand, 
the probability was very great that he would be asked. It 
would seem most natural that Hess should inquire on re- 
turning to his post, “ Is the minister in there yet ?” 

Escaping this seemingly fatal contingency, there re- 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


95 


mained the additional peril of Alfred’s detection at the 
moment of his attempted egress. How close the keeper’s 
habits of observation were they did not know, or how 
slight a peculiarity of face or figure, voice or movement, 
might excite his suspicions and subvert all their laborious 
schemes. 

Could Lee maintain the necessary composure to go coolly 
through this ordeal? Could he command his voice, his 
eye, his step ? All this remained to be seen, and Louis did 
not fail repeatedly to caution him in regard to the neces- 
sity of preserving tranquil nerves. 

“I think I shall be self-possessed,” Alfred said. “You 
may have observed that some people, who are sadly vexed 
at trifles, grow calm in the presence of a great danger. I 
think I belong to this class. ” 

“ I hope it may prove so.” 

Even while they conversed the gallows was in process of 
construction in the back yard, and Lee and Hartley both 
avoided the windows, for they knew too well what was 
going on outside. On that morning, too, an undertaker’s 
man, whose business Alfred well understood, had been in 
the prison, measuring the young lieutenant with his eye. 
If he could keep cool amid these combined horrors his must 
be a heroic soul indeed. 

But how was it, it will be asked, that Lieutenant Lee, 
brave, unselfish, and generous, as he is represented, could 
embrace a scheme for escape which did not include the 
safety of his friend ? That friend compelled him. The plot, 
indeed, was chiefly of Louis’ invention, and by tears and 
entreaties, backed, doubtless, by that strong love of life 
which is inherent in every heart, he had induced Alfred to 
accede to it. 

“If they punish me,” Louis said, “it will not be 
capitally, and anything short of that I shall joyfully bear 
to procure your escape. Do you call me friend, and yet 
believe that our enemies can inflict any punishment on me 
equal to that of seeing you led out to execution? Would 
not I suffer tenfold more from that than from any solitary 
imprisonment, or hard labor, or coarse fare ?” 

“I know you would suffer, Louis.” 

„ “ Then save me from it. My heart will be lighter than 

the lark’s the moment you are safe. I care not what else 
comes. Besides, when once you are free, with a small 
portion of the wealth at your command, perhaps you can 
in some way effect my release.” 

“I will spend my last dollar for it, Louis— if I get off.” 


96 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


“ Nay, it is not worth a very great sacrifice. I have no 
friends to pine for me.” 

“ No friends ! Good heavens ! And such a heart !” 

The Rev. Mr. Brown did not deport himself with 
altogether a clerical air, and when he received from Al- 
fred’s hands the first installment of his compensation, in 
the shape of five double eagles, we fear that he let slip 
some words which would have gone far to ungown him in 

an ecclesiastical court. He said that Lee was a d d 

(which stands for “ decided, ” gentle reader) good fellow, 
and that he would be something if he didn’t do all he could 
to see him safe through, and out of the city. 

“Well, you jist keep sober to-day and to-morrow, Brud- 
der Brown, ” said Luke, laughing, “and den perhaps he’ll 
go throo. Don’t you. go to git dat money changed when 
you go out, and buy — ” 

“I won’t, Uncle Luke, ’pon honor I won’t.” 

Nothing was attempted in the way of disguising Lee 
while Allen remained, it being considered safest to put this 
off until a short time before changing the guard, lest that 
officer should look in upon them and discover the dupli- 
cated minister. 

But the garments were compared, and slight changes 
made to render the resemblance as complete as possible. 
Alfred watched, too, and caught the deportment and gait 
of Allen as nearly as possible, and when the latter, about 
six o’clock, prepared to go out, he said to him : 

“Leave me your books, Mr. Allen. You will not need 
them, and they will add a great deal to my clerical charac- 
ter. ” 

He left them, of course, and having knocked to be let 
out, he said, in a drawling voice, as the guard opened the 
door. 

“ Brother Luke will stay with the prisoner an hour or 
two, and as he is now in a most encouraging frame of 
mind, I should like to have him left undisturbed by other 
visitors. Will you see to that ?” 

“Yes,” replied Shaw, curtly. “I won’t let no one in if 
you say so, and I’m sure I don’t want to go in to their 
psalm-singing.” 

This man Shaw had, of course, not been neglected in Al- 
fred’s distribution of gold, and he had heard of the prom- 
ised legacy, which rendered him accommodating, though 
it could not make him civil. 

The supposed minister marched slowly off, and the guard 
resumed his walk, now and then sitting down to rest on a 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


97 


stool which stood near the door. Alfred did not begin to 
dress for his new character until after seven o’clock, at 
which hour their supper was usually sent in, but when this 
was received, and they were pretty sure of being un- 
molested for a considerable time, he and his coadjutors 
went vigorously to work. The problem before them was 
not only to disguise Lee, but to robe Hartley in the lieuten- 
ant’s clothes, while some kind of a lay figure should sup- 
ply Louis’ place in the bed. 

Then, if Alfred got out unchallenged, the guard looking 
in, would still seem to see the two prisoners left, while 
Louis, personating his friend, sat at his bedside, talked to 
his bolster, and gave to the escaped man, perhaps, a whole 
night’s start of his pursuers. 

This was their magnificent programme, and it was one 
at which at present all could work ; for while the prisoners 
each dressed himself, Luke was busy in constructing a 
figure out of the pillows of the two beds, together with 
some of the discarded apparel, which should have some re- 
semblance to a human being. His work was easily accom- 
plished, especially as Louis often lay down with his clothes 
on, and now his stuffed coat with one bent arm thrown 
outside of the blankets supplied his place. Something dark 
was found for a head, and as the position of the image im- 
plied that the face was turned toward the wall, the ab- 
sence of so material a part of the person would not be 
readily noticed. 

The least scrutiny, of course, would reveal everything, 
but the figure was good enough for unsuspicious eyes, in a 
room half lighted at best, and which it was hoped the 
guard would not enter until twilight or a still later hour. 

The lieutenant’s disguise was perfect. Not a stroke was 
wanting to complete the resemblance to the supposed 
clergyman. 

“After all,” he said, when Luke and Louis had exhausted 
their powers in expressing their delight at the inimitable 
transformation — as Lee solemnly paced the room with the 
Bible and psalm-book under his arm — “ after all I am but 
the counterfeit of a counterfeit. ” 

No one could be more indisposed to make a jest of sacred 
things, or of the ministerial calling, than Alfred Lee. His 
education, his habits of thought, the momentous peril 
which he was confronting, all forbade such a course ; but 
he felt fully justified in all the strategy in which he was 
now engaged, while his sable coadjutor, who was in reality 
a member of the Methodist church, was equally conscien- 


98 


JROXY HASTINGS. 


tious, not only lending him his earnest co operation, but in 
sending up many a mental prayer for the success of their 
daring enterprise. 

“I keep tinking ’tis Brudder Brown hisself ebery min- 
ute,” said Luke, laughing; “and I ’clare I b’lieve dat 
Shaw would let you right out ober agin, if you should 
knock. He’d tink he was mistaken about your goin’ 
afore. ” 

Hartley, in the lieutenant’s clothes, .looked sufficiently 
like him as he sat at the bedside, with his back to the door, 
slightly bending over a Bible which rested on his knees. 

But it was impossible to avoid a general trepidation, ay, 
terror, during all these proceedings, since they could not, 
for a minute, make perfectly sure of not receiving a visit 
from the guard who had let Allen out. As the hour of 
eight approached they breathed freer, and prepared for 
the speedy trial of their fearful experiment. 

“Here, Louis,” said Lee, “take this slip of paper and 
pencil, and write on it, ‘Jay’s Exercises,’ and ‘Baxter’s 
Saints’ Rest. ’ He knows my hand, I fear, as I have oc- 
casionally sent out memoranda by Luke.” 

Hartley did as he was requested, and Alfred, handing 
the paper to the negro, said : 

“Now, Luke, when I knock to be let out, you must go 
ahead, and hand this paper to Hess, and tell him it is the 
names of some books that the minister wants him to get for 
Mr. Lee. ” 

Luke looked at the speaker and at Louis in a bewildered 
state of mind, and said : 

“Yes, sah, I will.” 

“ That will divert his attention a little while I walk 
past — ” 

“Yes, sah.” 

“ And give him this money to buy the books with.” 

“Yes, sah.” 

“ And if he speaks to me I can’t answer, you know, be- 
cause he would know my voice. So you must answer in 
some way for me, while I sigh, and shake my head, and 
pass on. ” 

“Yes, sah, I will; I’ll say somepin.” 

Eight o’clock struck in an adjacent steeple, the guard 
was changed outside, and Lee, who listened intently, 
heard the clangor of a musket, dropped from the shoulder 
to the floor, and thought he heard the relieved guard walk 
off, although not until after an interval sufficiently long to 
admit of several questions being asked and answered. 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


99 


Had the momentous inquiry been made ? Alas ! a few 
minutes were now to decide that question, and either to 
intensify the brilliant hopes which had been raised, or to 
quench them in the blackest despair. 

At twenty minutes past eight, it being now almost dark 
within the prison, and gray twilight without, Lee shook 
hands with Hartley, and bade him an affectionate farewell, 
and then, with his books beneath his arm, advanced with 
singular calmness to the door, and knocked. 

Then falling behind the negro, whose terror, unfortu- 
nately, became extreme at this moment, and threatened to 
betray the whole plot, he whispered : 

“ Brother Luke, look to your paper, and remember ‘ Jay’s 
Exercises’ and ‘Baxter’s Saints’ Rest.’ Be a man now.” 

The sound of withdrawing bolts was heard, the door 
swung slowly open, and Hess partly entered ; but at the 
same instant he started in evident surprise, and said, ad- 
dressing the disguised man : 

“ Why, I thought Shaw said he had let you out. He did 
say so, I am sure. ” 

“Yes, Massa Hess,” said Luke, at the same time thrust- 
ing the paper under his nose. “ Brudder Brown went out 
to get a book, but he corned back agin ; and now Massa Lee 
wants you to get dese books for him to-night, and bring 
’em to him arly to-morrow mornin’, and here’s de money 
to pay for ’em. But he don’t want to be ’sturbed to-night. 
Can you read de names ?” 

Hess, who from habit had glanced through the room and 
saw, as he supposed, the lieutenant at Hartley’s bedside, 
and the latter, as usual, in bed, now looked at the paper 
and began to spell out the name, while Alfred slowly walked 
past him, and stood in the hall, just outside of the prison 
door, where lamps were already lighted. Here he waited 
in awful suspense for Luke, but the latter lingered, trying 
to get the keeper out without his going any nearer to Hart- 
ley. 

“ Oh, yes, I can read ’em, and if I can’t it don’t make 
any difference,” said the man, putting the paper in his 
pocket, and advancing into the room. 

“ He wants you to send for ’em right away, before de 
stores shut up, Massa Hess, ” said the negro, in a whisper, 
and catching hold of the soldier’s arm ; “ and he don’t want 
to be ’sturbed now, ’cause he readin’ and prayin’. De 
minister talk beautiful to him, and he berry much ’fected.” 

Still Hess advanced, and Louis, sliding from his seat, 


100 BOXY HASTINGS. 

fell upon his knees and buried his face in his hands as they 
rested upon the bed. 

But the keeper was not closely watching him— he had 
advanced only to remove the dishes which had contained 
the supper for the two men, but perceiving that they had 
been untouched, he turned softly, and walked out, locking 
the door behind him even with a subdued noise. 

“ You needn’t take de books in to him till you come on 
in de mornin’, Massa Hess. He wants to read de Bible 
and pray, and write letters home to-night, and talk to 
Lewy, and he got plenty to eat and drink dere, and hopes 
you won’t come in nor let nobody in.” 

Hess gave a grunt, whether of assent or disapproval it 
was difficult to say, and Alfred, fearful that Luke would 
overdo his part, walked on and turned an angle of the hall, 
whither the negro at once followed him. He did not know 
the way out of the building, or he would perhaps have de- 
parted sooner, without waiting for the old man. 

They had still to pass a sentinel near the street door, and 
another in front of the building, and the lieutenant, bid- 
ding Luke keep close to his side, conversed with him with 
seeming earnestness as they went along, in order that he 
might avoid looking at these officers without seeming 
purposely to do so. 

He sighed heavily as he drew near the first man, and 
said, slowly, and in a nasal tone, gesticulating with one 
gloved hand upon the other : 

“The worst of these death-bed repentances, Brother 
Luke, is that we can never pronounce with certainty upon 
their genuineness. All seems fair with the young man — 
he seems to be humble, he seems to repent. ” 

They were outside now, where the twilight still lingered. 
There were several soldiers loitering about the door of the 
recruiting-office, and the solemn sentinel was marching, 
automaton-like, to and fro upon the sidewalk. 

Lee continued, looking only at the attentive negro : 

“ He seems to repent not only of his private sins, but of 
the greater crime of having joined this cruel army of 
abolitionists, who are devastating our fair land. Ah ! that 
was his crying sin. ” 

“Yes, sah.” 

“ I have tried to impress upon his mind the great wicked- 
ness of this act, Luke — its enormity, its — ” 

“Yes, sah.” 

“ And he owns that his punishment is just. Let us hope 
that he is sincere in all this. ” 


ROXY HASTINGS . 


101 


The men looked curiously after the preacher and the 
negro, and indulged in some scoffs and jests as they 
walked slowly away. But the street sentinel stopped sud- 
denly on his walk, and turning, looked after them with a 
puzzled air. He had seen the minister pass out but a little 
more than an hour before, and had not seen him return. 
How was it that he was now going in the same direction 
again ? 

“ There are two of them, perhaps, ” he said ; “ these black 
coats always swarm ^about such places, or he has passed 
me unobserved. ” 

But his doubts did not remain quieted ; they occurred 
again after an interval, not exactly as suspicious, but his 
curiosity was piqued. How had the minister passed twice 
in so short a time, in the same direction, without being 
xeen to return ? For Mr. Gallard thought he was pretty 
observing, and that he saw almost everything that was 
going on in the scope of his vision. 

He walked his beat a few times, and then he stopped and 
spoke to the sentinel at the door about it. He, too, had 
been thinking of the same thing. 

“There’s two of ’em, I guess,” he said, “ and one must 
a- went in afore I come on. ” 

“But I’ve been on since two o’clock.” 

“Well, it’s easy enough asking Hess. I don’t think 
there’s anything out of the way, though.” 

Gallard walked through the hall, and unconsciously kept 
time with his step to the sound of the hammer upon the 
growing gallows in the yard of the prison. Prompted by 
curiosity, he passed Hess hastily, and went to look at it. It 
was nearly dark, and the carpenters were about quitting 
their wrok, which was far from being completed, and he 
listened a moment to some directions about the width of 
the structure and the length of the cross beam. He had 
never seen a gallows before, and he wondered whether he 1 
would be permitted to witness the execution. Then, con- 
scious of being derelict in duty, he hastened back and 
said to Hess : 

“Were there two ministers in there this afternoom?” 

“No, only one.” 

“Was he there twice?” 

“Yes,” replied the man, remembering what Luke had 
told him about the clergyman going out after . a book ; 
“yes, twice.” 

“ Oh ! All right, then ! But it’s very strange !” 

“What’s strange?” 


102 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


“Why, Joe and I both saw the man go out twice, and 
didn’t either of us see him go back.” 

Gallard hurried off as he said this lest his absence from 
his post should be noticed, and left the slow-witted keej er 
to reflect on what he had said. 

Being impressed with the idea that the minister did go 
out twice, without reflecting on the source of his informa- 
tion, Hess only wondered that neither of the men should 
have seen him come back, and then he returned to the train 
of thoughts which the sentinel had interrupted — perhaps a 
contemplation of his expected legacy in the morning. But 
as second impressions, in some minds, are more forcible 
than first, the words of Gallard soon recurred to him, and 
with them came an undefined idea that something was 
wrong, or, at least, incongruous. He would at least make 
sure that he was all right, and, although disliking to dis- 
turb his profitable prisoner, contrary to his repeated in- 
junctions, he determined to look in. 

He opened the door as softly as possible, yet not without 
some noise, and looked in. There was the lieutenant sit- 
ting by the bedside, leaning over and talking to Hartley 
in bed. The room was barely light enough to show this, 
and Hess hesitated whether to advance or retire. 

He advanced. 

“ Sha’n’t I light your lamp ?” he said. 

“No, no!” replied Hartley, in a whisper, for he knew 
that his voice would betray him if he spoke loud. He mo- 
tioned to the keeper to go back, as he spoke, but he did 
not dare to look around. 

There was something strange in this, and for the first 
time Hess’ suspicions were really excited. He no longer 
hesitated, but walked quickly up to Hartley, and at- 
tempted to look into his face, and as this was studiously 
averted from him, he next glanced at the bed, where the 
nature of the deception which had been practiced upon 
him became at once apparent. He seized the stuffed figure 
and pulled it partly up, and then letting it drop back, he 
sprang upon Hartley, and seizing him forcibly, turned his 
face toward the light. 

With a terrible oath he next thrust the young man from 
him and demanded : 

“ Where is the lieutenant ?” 

Louis did not reply, and the enraged man again flew at 
him with the ferocity of a tiger, grasped him by the throat, 
and repeated the question. 

Hartley struggled, but did not speak, and when the fran- 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


103 


tic man had administered half a dozen sounding blows upon 
the head and face of his feeble antagonist, accompanying 
each one with a question which elicited no reply, he saw 
that he was only losing valuable time, and he desisted 
from further violence. Then rushing to the door, he shouted 
for help, and as footsteps were heard, he cried out : 

“ An escape ! An escape ! Quick ! Give the alarm ! Lee 
has got away ! Oh, Lord ! what shall I do ?” 

The alarm spread. Half a dozen men rushed in and 
asked a dozen questions, while Hess, with shaking hands, 
lighted a lamp and explored the room, thinking it possible 
that the lieutenant might not be gone, but might be con- 
cealed in the apartment watching for a chance to slip out. 

This hope being abandoned, he was obliged to admit that 
he must have himself let Lee out disguised as a clergyman, 
and that that was the secret of the duplicate minister 
whom they had all seen. 

“But he can’t be far !” he said. “We’ll soon have him ! 
Come on, boys ! It’s impossibe for him to get away, for 
he has not been gone a quarter of an hour. ” 

“Wait for the provo! wait for the provo !” said one. 
“he’ll be here in a minute.” 

Some waited, and some followed the half-demented Hess, 
who ran out swearing that he would wait for nobody, but 
that he would capture both Lee and Luke or would kill 
them if the least resistance was made. 

The “provo” soon came in, breathless with haste, fol- 
lowed by a dozen subordinates, and, gathering as quickly 
as possible all the information he could, he dispatched an 
officer and a guard of half a dozen men at once to Luke’s 
house, and sent others to notify the police, in order that 
the principal points of egress from the city might be 
watched. 

“ Spread the alarm everywhere among the citizens, ” he 
said to the men as they went out. “ Cry it as you would 
cry a fire ! I’ll have the bells all ringing in a few minutes, 
and there won’t be a man in Richmond in ten minutes but 
will know what it’s for.” 


CHAPTER XIX. 

THE ALARM. 

Alfred’s heart beat high with hope as, with his sable 
guide, he turned into another street, and quickened his 
pace away from the prison upon whose gloomy walls the 


104 


RCXY HASTINGS. 


shadow of his gallows would fall ere another sun had 
gained the meridian sky. 

He breathed freer as he advanced ; his heart palpitated 
with joy; his soul poured out its thanksgiving to its 
Maker, and yet he knew that his peril was still imminent, 
and that any moment might turn his rejoicing into woe. 

They proceeded nearly in silence, for they did not dare 
to converse on the subject uppermost in their thoughts 
until they were secure of not being heard by any chance 
listener. 

Luke led the way to his own house, and as soon as they 
were in it and the door locked behind them he said, almost 
breathlessly : 

“Now, den, we mustn’t stay here ten minutes. Here, 
Dinah, dar he is. I got him all safe so fur. What you 
tink o’ dat ?” 

Dinah came forward trembling, and said : 

“ I tink we all be hung, Luke, ef we get cotched at dis ; 
but I mighty glad he’s off. How do, sir?” 

Lee shook hands with the wife of his benefactor who im- 
mediately added : 

“ But we can’t die but once, if it’s de Lord’s will, and 
I’s been done prayin’ ever since de old man went out, ebery 
minute. ” 

“Yes, yes, but where’s Allen?” asked Luke, impatiently. 

“Dat’s jes’ wot I gwine to say. He done drunk up 
stairs, Luke, fas’ asleep ! He corned back and said ’t was 
all right, and he’d done his part all up, and he guv me 
dat,” (showing a gold-piece), “and said I must go git him 
some whisky. ” 

“You’se a fool to do it.” 

“I didn’t do it, Luke, but he swored he’d go hisself if I 
didn’t, wid his black clothes an’ all on, and so I jist guv him 
our bottle dar, wot we had six months in de house, and I 
guess he guzzled it all down, for he can’t speak now, and 
on’y grunts when I shake him.” 

“Well, nebber mind him, den. Git de old clothes. Dine 
— quick now. Dar’s no time to talk !” 

Dinah produced in a twinkling a new disguise, which 
had been prepared for the lieutenant several days before 
by his directions and under Luke’s advice, and in this he 
quickly dressed himself. 

It consisted of such clothes as common laborers wear, 
all old and shabby ; a ragged coat and pants of gray mixed 
stuff ; vest of the same ; a coarse flannel shirt, a high- 
crowned, battered hat, and coarse boots down at the heel 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


105 


and white with mud. An old stock encircled his neck, and 
Luke ran his ten digits to and fro through his neatly 
brushed hair, tangling and tossing it like new-mown hay 
spread for drying. 

Lee had left a considerable part of his money with 
Hartley, all that he could induce him to take, and the re- 
mainder he and Luke had brought with them. 

As Luke now intended to accompany him in his flight 
he proposed to leave a few hundred dollars with Dinah, 
which should form part of the thousand he had promised 
the old man, to whom he would pay the residue before 
they parted. . 

This was highly satisfactory, especially as the negro did 
not expect to return again to Richmond, but thought if he 
could get through to Norfolk, which had been his home 
twenty years before, and to which he had even since longed 
to return, that his wife would find some way of joining him 

“ Lor’ bress you !” she said, “ I’ll git troo in less than tree 
months arter I hear from you. YouTl see !” 

“Der we be under de old flag, and Jeff Davis can’t tech 
us for dis yer ting.” 

They did not lose time in this conversation, which took 
place while Alfred was putting on his new disguise, and 
Dinah had a basket of provisions ready packed before the 
arrival of the expected fugitives, so that Luke’s limit of 
ten minutes was scarcely exceeded before all things were 
ready for a start. _ , , 

Luke took up his basket, and nodding a good-by to Di- 
nah, bade Alfred follow him, which the young man did 
with great alacrity, for he had dreaded momentarily an 
irruption of soldiers into the house. 

It was dark now. The sky was slightly clouded, and 
the street in which they found themselves on leaving the 
house was one but little traversed in the evening. But 
they had barely crossed it, and walked a few rods eastward 
on the opposite side, and near the shore of the river, when 
a sound of running and loud talking was heard, and the 
two men stopped to listen. 

The noise came from a street which ran at right angles 
with the one in which they stood ; but it came momentarily 
nearer, and soon voices were heard seemingly near the 
house which they had just left. 

They staid to hear no more, but moved rapidly and si- 
lently on There were no buildings on the south side ot 
the road ; the river was there, with piers at irregular inter- 


106 


noxr HASTINGS 


vals, and a few vessels, of various sizes, moored beside 
them. They hurried on past all these, and stopped before 
a small cabin on the shore, in which there seemed to be no 
light or sign of human life. 

Luke knocked softly at the door, which was almost im- 
mediately opened by some one who must have been wait- 
ing close at hand. 

The room into which Alfred followed his sable guide was 
so dark that he could see only the outline of the person 
who admitted them, who seemed to be a tall, spare man. 
He was, in fact, one of Luke’s confreres, an old free negro, 
to whom alone, besides Dinah and the drunken Allen, the 
momentous secret had been intrusted. 

His role was to hire a skiff, for the avowed purpose of 
fishing very early the next morning, and to bring it around 
early in the evening, and moor it at some point near his 
house. 

“Hah, you got de boat, Uncle Jake?” was Luke’s quick 
inquiry. 

“ Y-yes — no — not quite, ” said the trembling, eager old 
man. 

“ Den de Lord hab marsy on us !” said Luke. “Dere’s de 
bells a-ringin’ de Tarm now, and — ” 

“Yes, but I ’spect it ebery minute, Uncle Luke. I spoke 
for it, and Josh, he went after it, and took de money to 
pay for it. I staid here to wait for you. I’ll go myself 
now. You come on down to de river, and I tell you war 
to wait. ” 

They went, and an interval of terrible suspense ensued 
while on the spot designated by their companion they 
awaited his return. They could no longer doubt that the 
escape had been discovered ; every bell in the city seemed 
to be ringing ; the distant roll of a drum was heard, and 
now and then a shout came to their ears, adding to the evi- 
dence of a general commotion. 

“I ’fraid dey pummel poor Dine,” said Luke, in a whis- 
per ; “but dey can’t hang her, can dey, Massa Lee?” 

“No, certainly not, and I do not think she’ll be harmed.” 

“Dere’s dat poor fool of a Allen. Dey’ll cotch him, sure 
as a gun. ” 

“Yes, and they’ll force him to tell all he knows.” 

“He don’t know much, bress de Lord. He don’t know 
nothin’ ’bout de boat. ” 

“But, Uncle Luke, the noises grow louder. I hear a 
tramping oft here to the left. They’ll place guards all 


ftOXY HASTINGS. 10? 

along the river shore, and, perhaps, are coining for that 
very purpose now. ” 

“ I guess dey are, Massa Lee. ’Twould be jes’ like ’em, 
dat would. Dat ‘provo’ is de wide-awakest feller I ever 
seed. But here comes de boat. Hallelujah ! Amen !” 

There was the boat, sure enough. Jake stopped a little 
way from them, and let out his grandson, Josh, whom he 
was unwilling to trust. 

“You go up to de house, boy ; I fasten de boat,” he said. 

Josh went willingly enough, and Luke and Alfred were 
speedily in the boat, with their baskets of provisions beside 
them. 

“ Have you paid him ?” asked Lee, who seemed to forget 
nothing. 

“ Yes, eberyting, and twenty dollars to pay for de old 
skiff, which ain’t worth ten.” 

Alfred shook hands with the old man, slipped another 
piece of gold into his palm, and then pushed off the skiff. 

“You let me row,” whispered Luke. “We must go 
mighty slow and still. I’ll git her out in de stream, and 
let her drop down wid de current till we git a good way 
out de town. ” 


CHAPTER XX. 
lee’s reception. 

Poor Luke was not mistaken about the “ pummeling” in 
reserve for Dinah, who had had no time to clear away the 
proofs of her complicity in the plot for escape, before Hess 
and another soldier burst furiousy into her cabin. 

There lay the priestly garments which Alfred had dis- 
carded, while a general state of disorder in the room, to- 
gether with the old woman’s abject terror at the sight of 
the men, left no room for doubting her privity to the whole 
affair. 

But Dine was quick-witted, and she was willing to 
“abide bonds and imprisonment,” if necessary, to save 
young Lee from the gallows. She knew the importance of 
gaining time, if it were but a few minutes, and she played 
her part accordingly. 

Hess seized her roughly by the arm, shook her violently, 
and with thick-coming vituperations demanded where 
Luke and the lieutenant were. Getting no answer but 
groans and prayers, he seized the lamp, and, drawing a re* 


108 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


volver, quickly ran through the few small rooms in the 
lower part of the house, and then bidding his companion 
follow, he went up stairs. His shouts of exultation soon 
rang through the house, for at the first view of the pros- 
trate Allen he" thought he had found his lost prisoner. 

He soon discovered his mistake, however, and oaths and 
kicks followed, to which for a considerable time the 
drunken wretch gave no answer but groans. But being 
raised up, and shaken, and doused with cold water until 
he exhibited some signs of intelligence, Hess, with his re- 
volver at the man’s head, demanded that he should tell all 
he knew about the means and direction of the lieutenant’s 
flight on pain of instant death. 

“ Take that thing away, then, ” said Allen, blinking stu- 
pidly, and striking at the weapon which was so near his 
face. “ Keep it away, and I’ll tell you (hie) all I know — 
and I know — and I — I know it all (hie).” 

“ Yes, and you’ll swing for it, too, if he ain’t caught : so 
look sharp.” 

Now, Allen had in reality nearly slept off the fumes of 
his liquor ; and the extraordinary waking that he had had, 
together with his sense of personal danger, had quite so- 
bered him. And, being sober, he was far more than a match 
in shrewdness for the stolid Hess. 

He arose to his feet, seemingly with great difficulty, 
falling back several times, and then said, in a half whis- 
per, to Hess. 

u I — I’ll tell you where he is. I — I’ll show you. But 
don’t tell Dine I peached — hey?” 

Hess promised eagerly. 

“C— come with me— I take you right to spot. You nab 
him in five (hie) minutes. He ain’t in this house— no, sir.” 

Hess had already made sure of that, and, exultant with 
the hope of so speedy a recapture of his man, he helped 
the staggering fellow to the stairs, and down them— a feat 
of much difficulty, as Allen dropped, seemingly helpless, 
on about every other step. 

“Take you right to spot,” he said, as the two men sup- 
ported him across the lower floor. “ But you, there — get 
my hat — I left it up stairs. ” 

“ Go and get it, ” said Hess, but scarcely had the assistant 
disappeared in the stair-way when Allen, shaking off the 
keeper’s supporting hand, dealt him a staggering blow in 
the forehead, and disappeared with the agility of a wild 
Indian down the dark street. 

Dine had made her escape from the house before the sol- 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


109 


diers came down stairs, and when the discomfited Hess 
slowly arose he began to think that the cup of his misery 
was full. Baffled on all sides, he vented a string of useless 
curses, and then went forth to resume his fruitless search 
in some of the adjoining houses. 

Alfred Lee and his faithful friend in the meantime pur- 
sued their way with fear and trembling, yet for the first 
time with something like a vivid hope of safety. Dangers 
still lay thick in their way, but they were of a character 
which they believed could be avoided by vigilance and en- 
durance, and the young man’s heart warmed with bound- 
less gratitude toward the Infinite Source of Power, which 
had thus far so signally protected him, and which now 
gave promise of his speedy restoration to his friends. 

He thought of those friends — of that loved mother whose 
agony in his behalf he had hitherto not dared to contem- 
plate, and he felt certain that if his final safety was as- 
sured, he should owe it to her unceasing intercessions. In 
this spirit of filial love he found himself repeating the 
beautiful lines of one of our most graceful poets : 

“ The wind-tost spider needs no token — 

How stands the oak when lightnings blaze : 

So by a thread from heaven unbroken, 

I know my mother lives and prays.” 

The darkness of the night was most favorable to the 
fugitives, who soon felt at liberty to apply themselves 
vigorously to their oars ; and as they rowed with the cur- 
rent they made encouraging headway. They kept a vigi- 
lant lookout and gave a wide berth to the few craft which 
they passed, anchored in the river, or moving slowly up 
the stream. 

When they had been about two hours afloat they heard 
the distant puffing of a steam-tug, which they did not 
doubt was started out in pursuit of them, though probably 
on a venture, and without any certain knowledge of the 
direction of their flight. 

Doubtless, Alfred thought, their pursuers were speeding 
in many different directions, and the river was certainly 
not the least probable of the avenues of escape. 

But the tug proclaimed its own whereabouts too dis- 
tinctly to be an object of serious apprehension to them in 
the night. They could keep out of its way, but when it 
had passed them, as it soon did in the distance, they knew 
that their danger was increased, and that smaller boats 
might soon be traversing their path in the darkness, while 


110 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


everywhere in front of them the alarm would be spread, 
and the people be incited by large rewards to watch for 
their approach. 

Our adventurous navigators kept near the middle of the 
river, except when they saw reason for a different route, as 
in passing Fort Darling, when they hugged the opposite 
shore, and passed unchallenged. 

It was manifestly their interest to make all the progress 
possible on the first night, and they pulled alternately, the 
night long, at the oars, stopping soon after day dawn near 
a clump of bushes on the beach, into which they drew their 
skiff, and then, with their basket of provisions, they re- 
treated into the forest, which extended several miles over 
the side of a hill, and gave promise of a safe shelter. 

They were both nearly exhausted with fatigue and the 
want of sleep, and Alfred, who had not dared to relax his 
vigilance in the boat, and had scarcely closed his eyes' on 
the night preceding his escape, was utterly unable longer 
to keep off the drowsy influence. 

Ere they had progressed far in the woods he stopped, 
saying : 

“ I must sleep, Luke, if it’s only ten minutes. I am 
nodding as I walk along. ” 

“Sleep away, den, I’ll watch. My ole eyes better dan 
yours arter all. ” 

Alf dropped beside a log, and like one, while his faithful 
friend sat down beside him and kept himself awake by 
eating, for their store of food was ample for several days. 

Luke permitted him to sleep for two hours, when, think- 
ing that it was his own turn, he woke the young man and 
took his place. Thus, in alternate sleeping and watching, 
they passed a considerable part of the day, and qualified 
themselves for their renewed labors at night. 

They saw nothing to create serious alarm. A few teams 
had passed along the road which lay between them and 
the river, and some small gunboats and other vessels had 
passed down the broad James, and occasionally they heard 
the distant boom of cannon from the northwest, and doubt- 
less from the Union army. But they did not dare to travel 
in that direction — across a territory which, though thinly 
settled, was still inhabited by adherents of the Confederate 
cause. 

They had no weapons, for Alfred had not dared to let 
Luke purchase even a revolver, lest suspicions should be 
awakened. 

They aimed, it need scarcely be said, at reaching Fort- 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


Ill 


ress Monroe by night journeys on the river, hiding them- 
selves and their vessel by day, as they had already done. 

They had about a hundred and forty miles to travel, of 
which they estimated they had already overcome thirty or 
more, and four more nights at the most, they expected, if 
no adverse fortune prevented, would place them under the 
protecting aegis of the American flag. 

It is unnecessary to enumerate the hardships of those 
nights and days, the perils encountered and eluded, for an 
hourly brightening hope cast its light over all their suffer- 
ings and rendered them of trivial moment. Alfred was 
fleeing from the gallows, was speeding to the arms of loved 
friends, and he had but to remember these things to enable 
him to laugh at the trifling ills which he encountered. 

On the fifth night after leaving Richmond they heard 
the sound of sentinels on the southern shore and knew that 
they were within the Union lines. Their joy was un- 
bounded, their excitement intense, yet they dared not land 
until it was light, when they could raise a white flag — ever 
the emblem of amity, even among the blood-red hosts of 
Mars — and could thus insure a safe landing, and a welcome 
reception. 

Now drifting, now silently rowing, they kept far from 
shore until the first purple tints of dawn began to streak 
the eastern sky, when they extemporized a flag of no mean 
dimensions. Of what it consisted it is scarcely necessary 
to say, for when the lieutenant had donned his flannel shirt 
in the negro’s cabin, he had only covered, not discarded, 
his accustomed linen. 

As soon as it was fully light, Alf hoisted his banner on 
one of the oars, while with the other, used as a scull, Luke 
propelled the boat shoreward. The pickets, too accustomed 
to arrivals of “ contrabands” to be surprised, received them 
readily, but could scarcely credit the story which they had 
to tell. 

They were passed rapidly through the lines to the fort- 
ress, where their reception was enthusiastic in the ex- 
treme, and whence the news of Lee’s escape was quickly 
given by the wires to the world. 


CHAPTER XXI. 

THE MOTHER’S JOY. 

Charles Lee had remained with his sister and mother in 
Washington, because the latter was so prostrated with 


112 ‘ ROXY HASTINGS. 

grief that fears were entertained for her reason, and even 
for her life. 

Nothing could be attempted for Alfred’s relief which 
offered the remotest chance of success, and those who were 
best informed advised him that all further effort would be 
Quixotic and chimerical. 

With a tortured heart he had abandoned hope, and had 
sent an agent to the front to receive his brother’s remains, 
which it was believed would be sent through, on applica- 
tion, under a flag of truce. 

The Richmond newspapers were not at that time received 
as regularly as they subsequently were, in our lines, and 
no tidings of Lieutenant Lee’s escape had been received at 
the North until the news was telegraphed from Fortress 
Monroe. 

Charles, pale and unspeakably wretched, was daily and 
hourly looking for the coffined body of his brother, when 
this thrilling and life-giving intelligence was received, and 
with the delirium of joy tingling through all his nerves, his 
first impulse had been to rush to his enfeebled mother with 
the exciting tidings. He was warned to be more prudent, 
and to communicate his news rather as a hope and rumor 
than a certainty, lest the excitement of so great a joy 
should be too intense for a mind in which reason was al- 
ready nearly dethroned. 

Having first told his sister, who herself frightened him 
by her frantic delight, they consulted together how best to 
administer this mental medicine" to their pining parent, 
who had been inquiring hourly for the past two days about 
the arrival of that funeral freight which they had all ex- 
pected and awaited. 

“Can there be any doubt of the truth of this report?” 
Laura asked, tremblingly. “ Pray do not let us raise any 
hopes which may have to be disappointed. ” 

“There can be no doubt. It is in the regular official re- 
port to the government. Here it is : ‘ Lieutenant Alfred 
Lee, who was to have been hung in Richmond last Thurs- 
day, arrived here this morning in company with an intelli- 
gent contraband, who assisted in his escape and guided him 
through the country. They traveled by night only, on the 
J ames, hiding in the daytime in the woods. The lieuten- 
ant looks well, though greatly fatigued, and will proceed to 
join his friends in New York after resting here a day or 
two. ’ ” 

“Surely there can be no doubt of this. Oh, I hope he 
will bring that faithful fellow with him. ” 




ROXY HASTINGS. 113 

“ I have thought of that, and will see that he does. He 
shall know what a brother’s gratitude is.” 

u Come, let us give mother her first modicum of hope. 
Who shall do it, Charley ?” 

“You, Laura, if you think you can do it judiciously. 
You have had the chief care of her, and ought to have this 
pleasure.” 

“ No, I dare not trust myself, Charley. There is nothing 
judicious about me. I will leave it to you.” 

Mrs. Lee, though very feeble, sat up much of the time, 
and even walked her room when her excitement became 
too intense for inaction. 

They found her now seated in a large fauteuil near a 
window, looking vacantly out into Pennsylvania avenue, 
and with utter wretchedness impressed on every feature 
of her expressive face. 

She turned her head wearily as her children entered the 
room, and asked, in a low, tremulous voice : 

“Has it come?” 

“No, mother,” said Charles, “and I think this delay 
affords some grounds for hope. ” 

“ Hope ! Of what, Charles ?” was the almost whispered 
reply. 

“ Why — why that it — it may not have taken place ; that 
he may have been pardoned, or escaped. ” 

“ Do you — do you believe there is any ground for hope, 
my son ?” said the mother, stretching out her trembling 
hands toward him. “Or is this said merely to comfort 
me?” 

“No. I certainly have some hope. There is a rumor—” 
“ What ! oh, what ? Speak quicker, louder, if there is 
any, any hope, no matter how slight. ” 

The widow trembled throughout her whole frame, and 
her wild, eager look was fearful to behold. 

“Be calm, mother. Command yourself, or I cannot say 
more.” 

“ I will— I will ! See there ! I am already composed. 
Only speak.” 

“There is a rumor that prisoners have[escaped from Rich- 
mond, and arrived within our lines — ” 

“ Thank God ! Thank God ! But is that all ?” 

“ No ; it is said that they left the city after the day ap- 
pointed for the execution, and that they heard nothing of it, 
and did not believe it had taken place. ” 

The mother listened breathlessly. She fell on her knees 
and remained long, silent, but, when she arose, she said : 


114 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


“ But, alas I all this is but rumor, Charles, and if true, 
what does it prove ?” 

“ Nothing positive, of course ; but, in the absence of 
other news, it is certainly most encouraging. ” 

“ It must be that you think so, for you both look so cheer- 
ful. Well, you have given me new life and strength, even 
if it is for a short time. ” 

“ Strength to bear still better news, I hope, dear mother, 
if it should come.” 

“ Oh, yes, I can bear any amount of good tidings. ” 

The widow’s face was illumined with a smile for the first 
time since she heard of her son’s danger, and after a few 
hours, during which she saw only bright, smiling faces 
about her, and heard encouraging words, Charley went 
-out, and returned with still better tidings, verging toward 
that certainty of bliss which, ere the joyous day closed, 
they were able unreservedly to reveal. 

There are some emotions which the pen is powerless to 
portray, and presuming would he be who should seek to 
depict a mother’s joy or gratitude on such an occasion. 

Charles telegraphed to his brother and started on the same 
night for Fortress Monroe, to meet him, as his mother no 
longer needed his care. 

Just before starting he received * letter from Mr. Ogil- 
vie, which he perused with involuntary exclamations of 
pleasure and surprise, but the contents of which he laugh- 
ingly declined to communicate to his mother and sister. 

“It’s part of my guaranteed secret, mother,” he said. “ I 
hold you to your promise. ” 

“ Oh, I care nothing about it now, ” was the pleasant re- 
ply. “ You are welcome to keep it. ” 


CHAPTER XXII. 

LUKE’S HAPPINESS. 

The meeting of the brothers after such vicissitudes con- 
stituted a memorable event in the life of each. Both were 
too much overcome for coherent conversation at first sight, 
but when emotions subsided and something like equa- 
nimity was regained, there was the long recital to be made 
of the lieutenant’s adventures, of the extent or interest of 
which he was himself scarcely conscious until he came to, 
recount them, 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


115 


“And you have had adventures, too, of some kind,” 
said Alfred, when he had brought his story to a close. 
“How is it that you, who, like myself, were nearly desti- 
tute, have become suddenly almost rich ? And what are 
the figures, Charley?” 

“Those are secrets which, for the present, I must claim 
the privilege of keeping, even from you, Alf . It is my whim 
to appear poor. At the same time I intend that you shall 
share largely of my means. Let this satisfy you for the 
present. By and by — ” 

“Oh, yes,” said the other, laughing; “I should be un- 
reasonable not to be satisfied. And now, Charles,” he 
added, more soberly, “let me ask what information you 
can give me about — ” 

Charles knew by his brother’s countenance what he 
wanted to say, and he supplied the lingering word. 

“Lucy?” 

“Yes.” 

“ Nothing that will please you, Alf. Pray wean yourself 
from that attachment, for I believe, ere this she is a mar- 
ried woman.” 

The lieutenant’s countenance fell, and one might have 
supposed, for the moment, that he had caught sight of the 
Richmond “provo” with a posse at his back. 

He had never entirely abandoned the hope — what lover 
ever does ? — that in some way, his charmer was yet to be- 
come his bride. Her image had cheered him through all 
the loneliest, dreariest hours of his prison life ; and now 
was he let out again into the free air and sunshine only to 
learn that the sunlight of his heart was withdrawn from 
him forever ? He would not be ungrateful. He tried to 
rally and to smile, but it was only the ghost of a smile 
which played about his pale lips. 

“Who is he?” he asked. 

A cloud came over the sunny face of the younger 
brother as he answered : 

“His name is Burr, a millionaire almost, and fifty years 
old. Think no more of it. There are as good fish in the 
sea as ever were caught. ’ ” 

“ Ah ! he has never loved !” thought Alf. 

“But now,” continued Charles, anxious to divert his 
brother’s mind from so unpleasant a theme, “let me see 
your ebony hero ; I long to take him by the hand. ” 

“ You never pressed an honester. Come ! I will introduce 
you..” 

They found the negro staring about the works with an 


116 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


air of great amazement, himself attracting no little attent- 
ion, for a double reason. His adventures had made him a 
lion, while in apparel he was a scarecrow. 

Charles shook hands with him heartily, and Uncle Luke 
received his thanks very modestly, yet with a jubilant 
look. 

“Tank Him, Massa Lee,” he said, looking reverently up- 
ward. “ ’Twas wonderful, sah. Dine say de angel dat 
opened de prison gates to Peter would go with us, and I 
reckon he did, Massa Lee. Eb’ryting worked so beautiful. 
But ’twas touch and go, sah, all through ; a terrible tight 
squeeze. I sometimes hab to tink eber so long to make 
sure we’re out of it.” 

“Well, now, Luke you know we are your debtors for 
life.” 

“No, sah‘ I’se overpaid, and I tinkin’ about givin’ half 
back to de levtenant. I don’t tink he got much left. I’m 
afraid it ain’t right to take so much, ’cause, you see, he 
expected to be hung when he promised it, and all dat a 
man hath will he gi’ for his life, I don’t tink I ought to hold 
him to it. ” 

“ Never fear, my good fellow ; he doesn’t want it, and 
beside that, I am going to give you as much more. Come ! 
come along to the suttler’s, and get a new suit of clothes to 
begin with.” 

“As much more ! Why, I’ll be richer dan Jeff Davis !” 
said Luke, following his friends. “I’ll buy a house and a 
garden in Norfolk, and have a hundred dollar horse, and 
a painted wagon to take vegetables to de market. What 
will Dine say when she comes ? What would Shem and 
Mose say ? de vagabones !” 

A neat suit of gray was found to fit the old man ; and 
the transformation was very pleasing, for he had some- 
thing almost venerable in his aspect. 

“I want you to go with us to Washington and New 
York,” Charles said, “ for my friends will want to see you. 
You can return here, and go to Norfolk afterward if you 
wish.” 

Luke was delighted. He had never thought that he 
should see the great city, he said, but he wished he could 
have seen it before the war. 

He was asked why. 

“ Oh, ’cause I like to seen it when de people was dar. 
Now dey all gone to de war, and de business all stopped, 
and de grass growin’ in de streets.” 

“ Who told you that, Luke ?” 


ROXY HASTINGS 


m 


“ Dat’s what our folks in Eichmond say. Ain’t it true ?” 
“ I think you will find some people left there. Wait and 
see.” 

The letter which Charley Lee had received from Mr. 
Ogilvie, in Washington, and which he declined to exhibit 
to his friends, was as follows : 


“Dear Sir: — Our second well, when sunk to the depth of only three 
hundred feet, commenced flowing eight hundred barrels per day, and it 
takes all our resources to save and barrel it. There is no reason, that we 
can see, why we should not soon have half a score of these wells all equal- 
ly productive. The public is mad after our stock, which is fought for at 
fifty dollars per share, or four hundred per cent, premium. The com- 
pany has unanimously decided (I voting for you) to multiply our stock 
by ten — that is, to raise our capital to five millions in five hundred 
thousand shares of ten dollars each, which it is believed will readily 
sell at par. So if you wish to salt down a million in something else, 
and still retain a million and a half of the stock, send me word, and I 
will sell for you to some of the greedy throng, who are snapping 
every where at our hooks. 

“Yours truly, Ogilvie.” 


Lee replied to this letter only by congratulating his 
friend on their mutual good fortune, and by saying that he 
expected to be in the city in about a week, when he would 
make up his mind about selling. 

But he could not help exulting in the possession of so 
much wealth, though he labored to avoid exhibiting any 
consciousness of it in his deportment. 

He stopped only a few days at Fortress Monroe, when 
Alfred having recovered strength, they proceeded to 
Washington, where a week or more was given up to the 
pleasures of this blissful reunion. 

The widow received her son almost as one risen from the 
dead. Her face beamed with a perpetual joy, and it 
seemed as if she could scarcely bear to have him a moment 
out of her sight. 

“ I sometimes fear that it is a dream,” she said, “or that I 
have become mad, and that these are only the pleasant 
illusions which Heaven sends in mercy to the over tortured 
heart.” 

“ Never mind, mother,” replied Alf, laughing. “If the 
illusions are only strong enough they are as good as the 
reality. ” 

“For me, perhaps,” was the smiling reply, “but not for 
you — if you have not escaped after all. ” 

“ Well, I’ll take the risk of that. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t 


118 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


hung, and if at any time I shall have any doubt on the sub- 
ject, I have only to look at Luke to make quite sure.” 

Happy old Luke met with nothing but smiles and favors 
on all sides. He roamed at will about Washington, saw 
everything, and finally had the crowning delight of seeing 
“President Linkum” at the White House, whither he 
accompanied Lieutenant Lee. 

“I didn’t ’spect to see him,” said the excited old man, 
“ but de levtenant axed me to go along, and I tought I go 
and see de house, but after de levtenant had told de Presi- 
dent de ’ticlars about our ’scape, and told him I w^as out 
dere in de hall, he said, ‘ Call him in, call him in — I’d like 
to see him. P’raps he’d like to see me, too.’ So I sot my 
hat down in de hall, and went in trembling a good deal 
worse dan I did when we corned out of jail pass old Hess. 
But when I got in I never was so s’prised. ” 

“ Surprised at what ?” asked Mrs. Lee, to whom he told 
the story. 

“ At de President. He sot dere in de ’ception room — 
nobody but him and de levtenant — and he say, ‘Ah ! dat’s 
de brave, noble old feller, is it? How de do, Luke?’ 
Dem’s de very words, if I die to-morrow, and den he reach 
out, ma’am, and shake dat ere black hand of mine. Yes, 
ma’am, fact. I so ’fected I couldn’t hardly speak.” 

“ But what did you say, Luke ?” 

“I said, ‘Tank you, sir. It’s a great honor for ole Luke.’ 
Dat’s all, ’cause it wouldn’t do for me to say much. Den 
he say, ‘I honor truth and manhood, Luke, wherever I see 
it. ’ Den Massa Lee shook hands wid de President, and we 
corned off, ’cause dere was a lot more waitin’ to go in, one 
at a time — some jess to see de father of de country, but a 
good many more to git offices, I ’speck.” 

Leaving our happy family to return to New York, ac' 
companied by their sable friend, let us precede them, to 
take note of some other events bearing upon our history. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 

THE HEAL FATHERLY INTEREST. 

Mr. Jedediah Burr was a tall, spare bachelor, who, up to 
the age of fifty two — which he called forty-four — had given 
himself up entirely to a successful career of money making. 
He had acquired so much that all he could possibly find 


ROXY EASTINGS. 


119 


time or opportunity to spend really m^de but a very small 
hole even in his interest, and sometimes in moments of 
Sunday ennui, when he could not stifle reflection on 
’Change by plunging anew into the vortex of speculation, 
which, week-long, boiled and bubbled around him, some 
times he would ask himself the question, “ Cul bono ?” 

Burr had never intended to lead a single life, and he now 
coolly resolved that he would take a respite from business 
and look up a wife. . . 

Mark Holden was his friend — that is, they had a pro- 
found respect for each other as successful men, and busi- 
ness had frequently thrown them together. 

Burr had been an occasional visitor at Holden s, on in- 
vitation, for several years. He had admired Lucy, as 
young-old men often admire these budding beauties, and he 
had sometimes asked himself whether she would not be a 
good investment for part of his spare funds. 

A stylish house up town, a carriage, a box at the opera, 
and a liberal allowance of pin money— these things would 
buy her, of course. He never doubted that. He had be- 
come accustomed, insensibly, to look upon everything m a 
pecuniary aspect, and thus he looked on Lucy. , 

But he wanted love, and he thought he could buy that 
too. That he was not lovable— that .his soul was sordid 
and selfish— that he was narrow-minded, prejudiced, bad- 
tempered— he knew nothing of all this. He wanted love 
real, generous, self-sacrificing devotion, and he was ready 
to pay for it. What could be more reasonable ? 

He looked in the glass, and saw a thin, speckled, slightly 
wrinkled face ; hair and beard flecked with white.; a pursed- 
up mouth, and eyes which alone of all his features had re- 
tained their youthful fire and beauty. , , f 

“Not much changed,” he said, and he thought of the 
time, some fifteen years back, when he was yet considered 
young, and some fair girl was said to have been pmi g 

k m “ Fifteen years are not much,” he said. “I’ll speak to 
Mark.” 

He did And in a very Burr-like way. 

“I’ve been taking an inventory, Holden,” he s ^ d ’ ,^ nd 
I am worth four hundred »nd twenty thousand dollais. 
“Ah! I congratulate you. ” , 

“ I’m going to buy Pinckney’s house m Fifth avenue, not 

far from you — ” 

“I know where it is.” . p . , „ 

u And do you know how it is furnished ( 


120 


BOXY BASTINGS. 


“Yes; magnificently. I have been in it.” 

“ I buy the whole. He is going to Europe with his fam- 
ily. And then — I — I — I’m going to housekeeping.” 

“Without a wife ?” 

“That’ll depend on circumstances. What would Lucy 
say to it ?” 

A slight blush colored the old bachelor’s face as he asked 
this question, despite his affected coolness. 

“ My Loo ?” asked Mark, who Avas not altogether unpre- 
pared for the question. “Well, I know what she ought to 
say, Mr. Burr, to a gentleman of your standing and repu- 
tation ; and as Lucy is a good, sensible girl, with an ap- 
preciation of— of — merit — ” 

“ Thank you — thank you. I may ask her, then ?” 

“Most undoubtedly, sir. But do not be hasty,” 

“ Hasty, man ! Why, I’m almost forty-five years old.” 

“ I know. But do not be too abrupt, I mean, in your 
proposals. You had better prepare the way a little by 
some delicate attentions. ” 

“ All right. ” 

This conversation had taken place nearly a year after 
Alfred had joined the army, but while, as Avas well knoAvn, 
Lucy still grieved for her young lover. 

Mrs. Holden, who was a woman of the Avorld, by educa- 
tion, and who had four other daughters to proAude for, was 
easily induced to see the ad\ r antage of starting her oldest 
child so Avell in life, especially as Lucy Avas almost tAventy- 
two ; and she had already one marriageable sister, and 
another provokingly tall at fifteen, Avho AA^as fast croAA^ding 
on, and murmuring that those tAvo “ old maids” were not 
out of the way. 

“ It would be such a help, too, to Fanny and Grace,” the 
mother said, “ to have such a stylish married sister. Lucy 
could give such brillaint parties !” 

Oh, yes ! Mrs. Holden approved it. But Ave have said, that 
she was a woman of the world, by education. She had a 1 
heart which was sometimes troublesome to her in her posi j 
tion, and she could not help pitying her daughter, who had J 
been encouraged to love Alfred Lee, and Avho, she kneAv, 
did still love him Avith her A\diole soul. 

So she had been very gentle with Lucy, though very 
firm, AAdien the frightened girl appealed to her, nearly a 
year before, from her father’s harsh decree in regard to 
Alfred. 

Of the honor in reserve for her in the addresses of Mr. 
Burr, of course she knew nothing, as his claims were not 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


121 


advanced until the following year, though Mark Holden 
had long contemplated such a result, having this very 
golden prize in view when he had told Alfred that he had 
other views for his daughter. 

But Mr. Burr’s visits, even when they became frequent, 
awakened no suspicions in the young lady’s breast, for she 
considered them designed for her parents. 

True, she often found herself left alone with him, but 
this she considered mere accident, and as she was natu- 
rally obliging, and was polite by education, she did her 
best to entertain her father’s friend. 

Her best was not much, for, suppress it as she would, 
her grief for her lost lover was still the paramount emo- 
tion of her heart. It would not “ down” at the bidding of 
duty. She followed her friend in imagination on the bat- 
tle-field ; she pictured him sick, wounded, dying ; she fan- 
cied him calling upon her name, or clasping her photo- 
graphed image to his heart (for this he had begged to re- 
tain, and she had not refused him), and she feared that 
she had dismissed him too coldly. 

“ If I must sacrifice both my happiness and his,” she said, 
“ why could I not have told him distinctly that I loved 
him still, and always should, and that, if forced to wed 
another, it should be with that open and unequivocal reser- 
vation. This would at least have consoled him, but now 
perhaps he regards me as faithless, changeable, and even 
mercenary. ” 

But distrustful of her own judgment, timid, accustomed 
to strict obedience, used to suffer, Miss Holden buried her 
sorrows in the depths of her heart, and tried to carry a 
smiling face before the world. 

When Mr. Burr began to grow gracious toward her, tak- 
ing evident pains to please her on all occasions, a singular 
idea took possession of her mind. 

Here was a benevolent old gentleman, she thought, who 
had heard of her trials, who pitied her, and seemed to take 
a real fatherly interest in her. He was very rich. He 
had neither wife nor child. Perhaps he meant to redress 
her wrongs, to make Alfred rich, and bid them be happy. 
She had read somewhere of eccentric old bachelors doing 
such deeds as this, and surely there was never a nobler, 
handsomer, truer, braver youth on whom to bestow such 
favors than Alfred Lee. 

Burr knew him, had met him once or twice at her 
father’s house, and she was sure he must have admired 
him exceedingly. Perhaps he meant to adopt him and 


122 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


make him his heir ; or, if not, why a little, even, of his 
reputed vast fortune, would make them happy, not be- 
cause they wanted money— they could get along without 
that — but because it would reconcile her father to their 
union. 

That Mr. Burr meant something very benevolent and 
generous, she became daily more confident ; and when he 
said to her, one evening, with a constrained smile (ap- 
proaching his subject indirectly), “You are old enough to 
be married, Loo,” she replied, very innocently, “Yes, sir.” 

This was being rather forward, he thought. No one 
fully values fruit which drops into his hands without even 
a shake of the tree. Still his errand was to be done. 

“ So you have thought about it, have you ?” he asked. 

“ Oh, yes, sir. ” ' 

“ How long, now, Loo — how long ?” he asked, coming a 
little nearer. 

“ Oh, a good while, sir ; I thought you knew about it. ” 

She saw benignity beaming from the good man’s face, 
and she resolved to speak without reserve. 

“I didn’t know, Loo — I didn’t know; I only hoped it 
was so. I have watched you, and I thought I could not be 
mistaken. But I am glad to hear you avow it.” 

“You are very kind, sir, to take so much interest in me.” 

“ Kind ? Who would not be kind to so sweet a creature ?” 

Burr was about taking Lucy’s hand at this juncture, but 
his dignity got in his way, and he resolved he would have 
no nonsense about his declaration. It was not necessary, 
when the lady thus met him more than half way. 

“But you know, I presume,” she replied, “all the — the 
difficulty — ” 

“Difficulty? No, there shall be no difficulty, Lucy. I’ll 
see to all that. Indeed, I may say I have seen to it. ” 

“ Oh, how shall I thank you, sir ? My father has said 
nothing to me about this. He who was so — ” 

“No, he left that pleasure to me, dear girl.” 

‘ ‘ I am sure I shall never forget your goodness, Mr. Burr, 
and I shall hasten to thank papa for his kindness. May I 
ask how you effected this change in his sentiments ?” 

“Change? There has been no change. He never ob- 
jected — ” 

“ Oh, you mistake, sir. Papa did object, and he resisted 
all my importunities — ” 

“ Your importunities, Loo?” exclaimed the lover, now a 
little puzzled. “ What — what do you mean ? Surely you 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


123 


did not importune your father before I— before I— offered 
myself ?” 

“ What ! What !” exclaimed Lucy, gasping out her sur- 
prise and terror. “ You offer yourself ? Surely you do not 
mean— I— I beg your pardon— I did not understand—” 

Shocked, saddened, abashed, her joy turned to despair, 
Lucy hid her face in her hands, and could say no more. 

“Tell me what this means, Miss Holden,” said Jede- 
diah, not a little mortified. “ I came here to offer you my 
hand and fortune, which is a large one” (both were), “and 
you seemed to accept me with joy. Now you retract or say 
that you did not understand me. Pray explain. ” 

Lucy explained timidly but distinctly, and with some 
tears. She told the whole story, which was, in substance, 
that she had thought Mr. Burr knew of Mr. Lee’s offer and 
of his rejection, and that he had interceded with her 
father in her behalf, and had effected a change in his de- 
cision. She begged his pardon. She had been very stu- 
pid, and hoped that Mr. Burr would forget it, and, above 
all, would not tell her parents of it. 

No danger. He was glad enough to keep it secret, and 
he promised it quite condescendingly. 

Then he resumed his offer, backing it with the paternal 
approval, and with a second reference to his fortune, his 
house and furniture, and the style in which he expected to 
live. 

“ If I am to be allowed to answer for myself,” Lucy re- 
plied, with some spirit, “I shall decline your offer, Mr. 
Burr, with all due thanks for the oompliment to me, which 
it implies. My affections are already bestowed, worthily, 
I believe, and you would not wish my hand without my 
heart. ” 

“I don’t quite believe in broken hearts, Loo,” said the 
bachelor ; “ or rather, I believe they can be mended like 
other wares. You are a sensible girl, your father says, 
and I hope you will see the advantage of having a kind, 
liberal husband who can support you handsomely, even if 
he does not chance to be your first choice. Think of it, 
Loo, and talk to your father about it. ” 

Ay, there he had her. There was no doubt about the 
counsel she would receive, though it would not be of her 
seeking. Well he knew the iron will of Mark Holden, and 
the ductile nature of little trembling Lucy. 

He did not miscalculate, and although it was not imme- 
diately, nor even for several months, yet his renewed offer 


124 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


was accepted by Lucy’s own lips (a little pale now), and 
with the faintest of faint smiles upon them. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

A FATHER’S CRUELTY. 

The marriage was set down for the latter part of July, 
and active preparations were soon making to crown the 
victim for the sacrifice. 

Old Mark, who had carried a bold front throughout the 
commercial crisis, but who had not come out of it un- 
shaken. rejoiced at securing for himself an auxiliary 
whose credit would strengthen his own, and whose direct 
aid might be relied on, if needed, in some of his heavy 
monetary transactions. 

We have all read of ships which have survived the most 
violent storms, and yet gone down in a tranquil sea. So 
we have seen merchants outliving financial panics, and 
falling amid general prosperity. 

In both cases the end was but a deferred result of causes 
which had ceased to operate. 

Mark’s losses had been immense, but his credit was 
greater, and he trusted to future profits to make good his 
deficits. 

With Burr for a son-in-law, perhaps a partner, he would 
be sure to recover his old ground in time, and when he 
again reached the point at which his prosperity had been 
checked, he would retire. 

Such were his calculations, and he only regretted that 
he had not been sooner satisfied. But he kept his own 
counsels. None knew and few suspected the extent to 
which he had been crippled. 

Lucy heard so much about her prospective grandeur, and 
she met so many who so plainly envied her lot, that she 
began to think it was wrong in her not to be happy. 

She tried to appreciate what all about her valued so 
highly, and to believe (what she was told) that the love 
which she was certain she did not feel for Mr. Burr would 
surely follow marriage. 

She was benevolent, and there was at least a reflected 
joy for her, derived from the delight which her engage- 
ment gave to her mother and sisters. For herself it mat- 
tered little, she thought. She never could be happy apart 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


125 


from Alfred, but it might not add materially to the misery 
to wed another, and even if it did why she must not con- 
sult her own comfort alone. 

There might be something in wealth and fashion to com- 
pensate for a broken heart, and she would try it, since 
she must. 

k ‘I would have died first,” I hear some maiden exclaim. 
“ She was no heroine to consent to such an ignominious 
surrender of herself. ” 

No ; she was no heroine. She was a good, loving girl, 
accustomed to obey, distrustful of her own judgment, and 
perhaps not fully aware of her rights, for, as we have said, 
she was of legal age. Blame her not, fair reader, for you 
will soon see with what a bleeding heart she blamed her- 
self. 

Often Lucy nearly resolved to look up the Lees, who 
now lived very far from them, and learn something about 
Alfred, but she was ashamed to do so. 

With what consistency could she, the affianced bride of 
a reputed millionaire, make inquiries after a former lover, 
whom she had been compelled to discard only for his pov- 
erty ? 

The proprieties must be observed, whatever else befell. 

But Lucy was in the habit of reading the newspapers, 
and about three weeks before the day appointed for her 
wedding she saw that fearful item which, almost at the 
same hour, had stricken Alfred’s mother and sisters with 
terror akin to madness. 

She was found swooning in the breakfast-room with the 
morning journal at her feet, and when she was resuscitated 
by her frightened friends, she. muttered, pointing shud- 
deringly to the paper, as if it had been a basilisk : 

“ I have murdered him 1” 

All efforts to soothe her were unavailing. 

She denounced herself, her parents, her affianced hus- 
band in vehement terms, and wished that she had died be- 
fore her cruelty had driven her lover to the war, and en- 
tailed upon him so dreadful a destiny. 

This mental paroxysm lasted several hours, during 
which she begged that her father, if he would not see her 
die, would make some effort to avert Alfred’s threatened 
fate. 

Her condition was so alarming that the frightened father 
obeyed her request to hunt up the Widow Lee, and get all 
the information which she had on the distressing subject. 
But although Mark found the place on the afternoon of 


126 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


the day on which the intelligence was received, the family 
were all gone. 

Mrs. and Miss Lee had started a few hours before for 
Washington, a servant said, and Mr. Charles Lee had been 
absent more than a week. 

“They’ve had dreadful news, sir,” said the girl, “and the 
old lady is in an awful way. Her oldest son is to be hung 
in Richmond, and they have gone to Washington to see if 
anything can be done to stop it. ” 

“ They^ might as well have stayed at home, ” muttered 
Mark, turning away. “ As if two women were going to 
stop the wheels of government with their tears !” 

Mark had the more readily done what he could to soothe 
his frantic daughter, because he felt assured that all efforts 
to arrest Lee’s fate would be in vain, and that when he 
was out of the way, and Lucy’s grief had been allowed an 
unrestrained flow, she would subside into more perfect 
acquiescence to his will than before. It might be neces- 
sary to postpone the wedding, but what was a little delay 
compared with the added cheerfulness and vivacity which 
such a course would insure in the bride ? 

He was surprised to find Lucy much calmer on his re- 
turn, and to see that her comparative composure contin- 
ued, notwithstanding he had brought her no words of hope. 
He did not understand that this was a natural reaction 
from her violent emotion, and that she was sinking into 
the apathy of despair. 

He improved the occasion to recover his authority, and 
to warn her of the impropriety of exhibiting any special 
grief for young Lee in her peculiar circumstances. 

“We may mourn him as a friend of the family very 
properly, ” he said, with a majestical air; “but of course 
nothing could be more distasteful to — to Mr. Burr than to 
witness any very marked sorrow in his bride elect” (Lucy 
shuddered) for the— the loss of a young gentleman who 
was in no wise related to us. You understand ?” 

Lucy had buried her face in her hands, but she nodded 
assent. 

Without further signs of insubordination, Lucy simply 
requested that she might be excused from seeing Mr. Burr 
for a few days, and this favor was readily accorded. In- 
deed, probably she would not have been allowed to meet 
him if she had desired while in such extreme dejection ; 
for Mark thought it important to withhold from his pros- 
pective son-in-law all knowledge of what had taken place. 

If he had seen the announcement about Lee in the paper 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


127 


he would not probably suspect that the imperiled man was 
Miss Holden’s former suitor, for he knew nothing of Al- 
fred having gone in the army — indeed, he knew very little 
about him. 

A plea of slight illness sufficed for denying Lucy for a 
few days to her lover, whose solicitude was not awakened, 
but who found an excuse for sending in numerous costly 
presents of bouquets, books, fruits, etc., to relieve the 
tedium of a sick room. 

“ What devotion !” exclaimed the mother. “ I declare, he 
shows all the ardor of youth, Loo, and for that matter he 
doesn’t look over thirty-five — or so.” 

“ And pa says that a man is young at forty, ” said Fanny. 
“Then he dresses so well — so richly, not foppishly.” 

“And he talks of foreign travel,” continued the mother. 
“ He asked me this morning whether I would be willing to 
have you go to Italy for your wedding trip. Has he ever 
spoken to you about it ?” 

“No — yes, I believe so. I am not certain.” 

“Not certain? Why, that is strange.” 

“ Somebody spoke about it. I had forgotten 'whether it 
was he or father. I believe he did. ” 

Lucy spoke in a low voice, and with an air of great in- 
difference. She was looking out of the window. 

“Oh, how I should like to go to Italy!” exclaimed 
Fanny. “Wouldn’t you like to have me go along, if papa 
will let me ?” 

“Yes.” 

Thus they tried to rouse her to an interest in passing 
and coming events, and at times they seemed momentarily 
to succeed. 

After a few days she asked of her father, evidently with 
an effort : 

“ Is it settled about Gray ?” 

“Yes, yes, his sentence was carried out to the letter.” 

“ And about — about Alfred ?” 

“ It’s all over, Loo — all past now ; and what worse is it 
than the fate of thousands who are shot down in battle 
every day? Be a brave, good girl, and think no more of it.” 

With wonderful calmness, Lucy heard this false story, 
and yet it was not quite a falsehood in Mark, who fully be- 
lieved that Lee had been hung, as threatened, and who 
wished to have his daughter’s mind set at rest on the sub- 
ject ; suspense being far worse for her, he believed, than 
certainty. 


128 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


She looked earnestly into her father’s eyes, and said, 
with mournful but not trembling voice : 

“ If we had not driven him away !” 

“Tut, tut! We did no such thing. He went into the 
army of his own free choice, as thousands of others have 
done. It is the fortune of war. And he has won fame. 
He is spoken of as a brave soldier, and now he has died 
for his country, and he will be praised in history. What 
better fate could you ask for him ?” ✓ 

Lucy looked steadily at her father, as if she were really 
trying to find balm for her wounded spirit in his words. 
But she did not reply. 

But the father’s cruelty was not at an end. When, a few 
days later, he heard of Lee’s escape (and he heard it with 
uneasiness, if not with decided regret), he withheld the 
news from Lucy, and forbade any to impart it to her. 

“ It will only unsettle her mind again, ” he said, “ and if 
he does not return to the city within a few weeks, as he 
most likely will not, we can probably keep it from her 
until she is married. It will be quite time enough then to 
tell her, and ease her conscience of the idea of having 
caused his death, for that, I believe, is the principal thing 
that ails her now. ” 

“If that is all, we had better tell her at once,” said 
Grace, the third daughter. 

“ I did not say it was all, child. I said it was the princi- 
pal trouble. Neither did I ask your advice.” 

Grace was silenced, but indignant. 

Two mornings afterward, while the wedding prepara- 
tions were still slowly progressing, and while the sewing- 
room was littered with shreds of lace, and satin, and 
broken flowers, Lucy Holden was missing from her home. 

The quiet maiden, who hhd so long submitted unrepin- 
ingly to a father’s iron will, had at last plucked up spirit 
and run away. 


CHAPTER XXV. 

“she ain’t among them.” 

Lucy left the following lette r in her boudoir : 

“To My Patients: — I have left you forever! Life has nothing in 
store for me but misery, and I can better endure my wretchedness 
away from those associations which constantly remind me of its cause. 
If Heaven does not, in kindness, terminate my existence, or take from 
me that reason and memory which are goads and tortures to me now, 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


129 


perhaps the discipline of life in some obscure station may be of ser- 
vice to me. Whatever that discipline may be it will be better than 
marrying a man I loathe, or remaining where everything reminds me 
of him whom I have murdered. 

“Farewell! Be assured that no efforts will avail to find me. We 
have parted forever ! Lucy.” 

She had taken a part only of her apparel, and that 
chiefly the plainest. Her best and most costly dresses, 
with a single exception, she had left ; but she had taken 
all her jewelry, including a diamond pin and ring, of con- 
siderable value, which her father had given her on her 
twenty-first birth-day, when he was in the height of his 
prosperity. 

No one could give any account of the time or mode of 
her departure. 

The servants, who were severally suspected of complic- 
ity in her flight, all avowed, with the most earnest pro* 
testations, an entire ignorance of her movements. 

The father stormed with rage at first, but, being confi- 
dent of speedily discovering her retreat, he gave orders 
that the strictest secrecy should be maintained in regard to 
an event which, he considered, reflected so much disgrace 
upon his family. Especially was it to be kept from Mr. 
Burr, whose inquiries after the invalid were to be an- 
swered in the usual, way, and whose daily love offerings 
were to be received and acknowledged in her name. 

An experienced detective was employed, who laughed at 
the idea of his failing to find the runaway, and promised 
her certain return within twenty-four hours from the mo- 
ment he was engaged. But, when thrice that time had 
elapsed without the slightest clew to the missing girl, the 
baffled man grew less confident, though he was still hope- 
ful. 

Mrs. Holden was in great distress, and insisted that no 
further secrecy should be maintained, but that advertise- 
ments should be inserted in all the city papers, describing 
her daughter, and offering a large reward for her return. 

“ She is clearly out of her mind, ” she said, “ and may be 
wandering through the streets, exposed to every danger. 
She could not have had but a few dollars in money. ” 

Mark yielded to his wife’s importunities to advertise, 
but a preliminary step to this was to inform Mr. Burr of 
the true state of affairs. Yet they did not tell him all. The 
repugnance which Lucy had expressed toward him was, 
of course, carefully concealed. 

“She had a tender conscience,” said Mark. “And when 


130 


liOXY HASTINGS. 


she heard that young Lee was sentenced to death, she ac- 
cused herself of being the cause of his going into the army, 
and of all the consequences of that step. Her girlish at- 
tachment to the young man would long ago have been 
forgotten but for that unfortunate affair. M 

“ But he was not hung. He escaped, ” exclaimed Burr. 
“ Did she not know this ?” 

U N — no. I heard some rumor of the kind, but I did not 
tell her, for she had become so calm and quiet thut I — I 
thought I had better not. I fully intended to tell ner by 
and by. ” 

Burr suspected all that Holden did not tell him, and 
mortification was his principal emotion. 

“They will know it at the clubs,” he said, mentally. 
“ The penny-a liners will get hold of it ; the city will ring 
with it.” 

He was not mistaken. The item was served up in one of 
the morning journals with some very piquant sauce about 
“January and May — about beauty spurning golden chains, 
and Mars triumphing over Mammon” — for it was intimated, 
of course, that the young lady had gone off with her “ sol- 
dier boy. ” 

Jedediah was utterly crestfallen, and thought that he 
would rather have lost half his fortune than to have met 
with such a disgrace, a disgrace of which his fine house, 
with its costly furniture, was now a standing monument. 

He took no part in the search for Lucy, but in reply to 
Mark’s inquiries on the subject he intimated that he was 
willing to forgive and forget if she returned within a 
reasonable time, which was very magnanimous on his part, 
the father said, and far more than the silly girl had any 
right to expect. 

Let us see what had in the meantime become of Lucy. 
About a week before her flight, which she was then pre- 
meditating, she went to see a Miss Blythe, who had been 
her schoolmate and room mate at a fashionable seminary 
in the city, and of whose earnest, genuine friendship she 
had had many convincing proofs. 

To her, after exacting solemn pledges of secrecy, she 
told, with many tears, her whole sad story, though, unfor- 
tunately, suppressing the name of her lost lover, and the 
particulars of his supposed dreadful death, on which she 
could not dwell an instant without unspeakable horror. 

He had joined the army and lost his life. This was all 
that she told her friend of his fate, but on the other points 
she was unreserved in her communications. 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


131 


She told her of her resolve never again to see a father 
whose cruelty had wrought such a terrible result, and in- 
sured to her a life-long distress ; and whose iron will iiad 
so nearly driven her into a detested union. 

“ I know that I cannot resist him if I remain, ” she said. 
“ My only safety is in flight, on which I have fully deter- 
mined. But how or where to go to begin the novel task of 
earning my own living ; these are the questions that re- 
main, and on these I have come to seek the advice of my 
friend.” 

When Miss Blythe ascertained that no debate of the main 
question would be allowed, and no advice received upon 
it, she. set herself diligently to seek how she might assist 
the unfortunate girl. 

So successful was her search, that ere Lucy’s second visit 
she had found, by consulting advertisements, a wealthy 
American family who were going abroad, and who wanted 
a governess competent to take full charge of the educa- 
tion of three young girls. 

The head of the family was agent and joint proprietor of 
a manufacturing house which was about establishing a 
branch in one of the midland counties of England, and he 
expected to reside there for a series of years, perhaps for 
the remainder of his life. 

The situation would be “permanent for five or six years” 
(so said the advertisement) “ if the applicant gave full satis- 
faction. ” 

Miss Blythe went at once to see Mrs. Allard in behalf of 
her friend, for she knew that nothing would suit Lucy bet- 
ter than such an opportunity to put the ocean at once be- 
tween her and all pursuit. The result was encouraging and 
yet not altogether satisfactory. 

She found Mrs. Allard almost in despair of getting an 
eligible offer in the very short time which was to intervene 
before they were to embark, and the lady listened with 
evident delight to her eulogium of Miss Holden’s merits 
and capacity. But she was a vulgar, ignorant, over-dressed 
woman, whose coarseness did not even seem to be relieved 
by good temper, for she was both cross and suspicious. 

That Lucy, with her sweet face and quiet', lady-like de- 
portment, would be very acceptable, Miss Blythe did not 
doubt, but whether it would be an agreeable or even en- 
durable situation for her was more questionable. 

“I don’t want no stuck-up creatures,” she said, “who 
will be settin’ themselves up to catch my sons, Miss Blythe. 


132 BOXY HASTINGS. 

I want that understood in the outset. I’m very plain 
spoken, you see. ” 

“I see you are,” rejoined Mary Blythe, much incensed. 
“ I don’t think my friend would suit you, or rather I don’t 
think you would suit her, if you indulge in such suspicions 
even before seeing her. I will bid you good-morning. ” 

“ No— don’t be huffy. I dare say she may be all right. I 
didn’t mean no offense. I only want to put her on her 
guard, you know, for boys are always great fools where 
there’s a pretty face in the way ; and you say your friend 
is handsome.” 

“ She is.” 

“Well, wait a minute while I call Allard, and see what 
he thinks about it. ” 

The husband proved to be a gentleman of unquestion- 
able good sense and temper, and at his request Mary con- 
sented to bring her protegee for inspection. 

She gave ample references for herself and family, but 
declined to give any information about. the antecedents of 
her friend, who, she said, must be taken, if at all, on her 
recommendation. 

“And now, Lucy, what do you think of it?” she said, 
when on the ensuing second day her friend had again come 
to see her, and had quickly heard the whole story. 

But Lucy’s countenance had already answered the ques- 
tion. 

“Nothing could be better,” she said, “for it takes me out 
of the country and beyond their reach. Of course there 
will be terribly disagreeable things said about it. What of 
that ? I had made up my mind to go out as a common serv- 
ant if I could do no better. ” 

The friends went to the Allards, and Lucy was pro- 
nounced “ tip-top” by the lady, and “ A. No. 1” by the busi- 
ness man, and she was engaged without hesitation or scarce 
the pretense of it. 

The salary was, of course, satisfactory, for Miss Holden 
would have accepted the place without pay rather than 
have missed it, and the sum proposed was larger than 
either of them expected. 

When Lucy left home she went to her friend’s in the 
night, accompanied by a servant of the Blythes, whose 
secrecy had been insured, and she remained there in con- 
cealment until the day of the sailing of the vessel. 

Mary kept her in her own room, took her meals to her, 
and aided her in every way, though she never ceased to 
counsel her to abandon her scheme of flight, and to permit 


BOXY HASTINGS. 133 

negotiations to be opened with her parents for her return, 
and for the abandonment of the matrimonial engagement. 

“ They are too much for me,” Lucy would reply. u You 
do not know my father. No, no, I will not go back. I 
know that I should be married in a week, and that step 
would be irrevocable.” 

Mary proved a stanch friend. She had determined faith- 
fully to aid Lucy to carry out her designs, unless she could 
be dissuaded from them by argument. 

“She is of age,” she said, “and has the right to decide 
upon and to control her own movements. ” 

On steamer day she accompanied Lucy to meet her new 
friends on board the vessel, where they saw the whole of 
the Allard family for the first time. The pupils (two pug- 
noses and a chub) ranged from six to ten years, and seemed 
to be nice, well-behaved children, rather pretty in certain 
aspects. Mr. Allard was a slim man of forty-five, with the 
slightest sprinkling of gray in his full beard, and the lady, 
stoutish and sandy- haired, was probably about the same 
age. 

The sons, for whom she had expressed so much solici- 
tude, were homely boys of eighteen and twenty — one a fop, 
the other a gawk ; but both seemed struck with the charms 
of the new governess, and while one stared rudely at her, 
the other annoyed her with small talk. 

Though Lucy could well imagine how diligently her 
father was seeking her, she did not think it at all probable 
that he would look for her on shipboard, and she began to 
feel as if the ocean’s width was already between them. 

But she was mistaken. What faint hope drew Mark 
Holden to the outgoing ship it would be difficult to say, but 
there he was, before Lucy’s eyes, on the wharf, in a surging 
crowd of people — there he was, elbowed by orange women 
and book peddlers, working his way with one tide and 
against another, toward the passage planks which led to 
the vessel. 

Lucy turned pale, and gave up all for lost. Visions of 
herself scolded and frowned into mute submission, taken 
home in a carriage, falling back into the old routine — of 
the renewal of the wedding preparations — of the party, the 
ceremony, her dresses, her home in the Fifth avenue — all 
flashed through her mind in an instant as something real, 
certain, unavoidable. 

But, gaining courage, . she reflected that it would require 
several minutes for her father to gain the deck, and with- 
out other sign of perturbation than her pallor and a very 


134 


UOXY HASTINGS. 


faint voice, she arose, and asked Mr. Allard if he could tell 
her the number of her state-room. She was to have one in 
company with two of the children. 

“ Most certainly I will show you to it, ” said the gentle- 
man, looking concerned. 

“ Gracious me ! how pale you are, Miss Holden ! Are you 
ill ?” asked Mrs. A. 

“Yes — no — thank you — a little faint only. I shall be bet* 
ter in a few minutes.” 

“ Are you subject to faintness ?” Mr. Allard asked her, as 
he conducted her below. 

“No, sir, no. I — I have been much excited. It will pass 
over. Let us hurry, if you please. ” 

Her companion felt her arm tremble within his ; he saw 
that she looked earnestly around the deck, and he knew 
she had had a sudden alarm. That there was a mystery 
about Miss Holden he was aware, but as her perfect re- 
spectability had been fully vouchsafed for, he did not seek 
to penetrate it. Yet now it bade fair to reveal itself. 
Probably she was running away from her friends, and she 
had seen some one in pursuit. Whose side should he take ? 
He was undecided. His sympathies leaned toward anx- 
ious parents, whose life long love and care had perhaps 
been repaid by desertion in a freak of anger, for some real 
or fancied harshness. 

Lucy saw his look of surprise and inquiry, perhaps of in- 
decision. She knew that he might be applied to by her 
father for information, and she resolved to disclose to 
him the truth, and appeal to him for protection. 

This she did hurriedly and succinctly, but very forcibly, 
and with the added weight of streaming tears. 

“ I am of age, ” she added, “ and have the full legal and 
moral right to act for myself Do not betray me, or you 
will make me miserable for life. ” 

“ I will not, you may depend on me, ”, said Allard. 

He conducted her to her state-room, bade her lock her- 
self in and fear nothing. 

Old Holden, as soon as he succeeded in getting aboard, 
bustled around through the cabins, and on the quarter- 
deck, peering into all feminine faces, not quite with a look 
of expectation, but like one who felt that he ought not to 
leave this slight chance untried. Next he went to the cap- 
tain and asked to see a list of passengers. There were not 
many ladies. The name of Holden did not occur ; and the 
captain, who knew something of all his passengers, was 
confident of the genuineness of the names that were down. 


IiOXY HASTINGS. 


135 


Yet there were the Allards, and in their party was a 
governess who was not otherwise designated. It was a 
slight chance, but Mark resolved to inquire. 

He hunted them up and found them on the quarter-deck, 
all in a squad, minus the governess. 

“ There he comes, ” said the father, who had been warn- 
ing his family of the danger. “We must stand by her. I 
shall refuse to give her up, unless he brings legal process. ” 

Holden came up very politely, and addressing Mrs. Al- 
lard, said : 

“Will you excuse me, madam, for asking you a ques- 
tion or two about the lady who is traveling with you as 
governess. My object is — ” 

The lady reddened and looked much embarrassed as he 
spoke. She turned to her husband, who was about to re- 
ply, when the elder son stepped forward, and with several 
bows, much gesticulation, and some grimaces, said : 

“ Je ne parle pas V Anglais, monsieur ; Je ne Ventende 
pas. Parlez Francais, sHl vous nlait. monsieur .” 

“Oh! they’re parley- vous, ” said Mark, turning away, 
hopeless of making them comprehend him. “She ain’t 
among them.” 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

ALFRED’S DESPAIR. 

The Lees had returned to New York a few days after the 
flight of Miss Holden, but before any publicity had been 
given to that affair, and Alfred, who had obtained his dis- 
charge from the army, made it his first business to inquire 
whether Lucy were yet married. Not that he entertained 
the slightest hope of defeating the nuptials, but he thought 
it would be a great satisfaction to see her once more before 
she became Mrs. Burr, as after that event he was resolved 
never voluntarily to expose himself to the pain of meeting 
her. 

Having heard that the wedding was yet in abeyance, and 
was to take place in about a fortnight, he called on the 
evening of the day after his arrival in the city, and was 
received by his old enemy, Mark Holden, alone. 

There was the chill of an iceberg in the look and manner 
of Mark as he gave two fingers to the young lieutenant to 
shake, and asked him if he would sit down, in a way that 


136 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


implied anything but a wish that he should comply with 
the invitation. 

It was the fourth day after Lucy’s hegira, and her 
father’s face plainly showed the effects of his wrath and 
anxiety, but poor Alf put it all down to vexation at his 
call, and he thought he saw plainly enough that Miss Hol- 
den was to be denied to him. 

The stern man ignored all the adventures and perils of 
the young soldier, who, of course, made no allusion to 
them himself. 

To his inquiries after the ladies, Mark replied : 

“They are all engaged or out this evening, Mr. Lee. You 
will have to excuse them. ” 

“Ah ! — I am sorry. My respects to them, if you please,” 
said Alfred, rising to go. 

“You know, I suppose, that we are on the eve of an im- 
portant event here,” said the other, who was then still san- 
guine of recovering his daughter, “ and — and — the ladies 
do not have much leisure. ” 

“Yes — I understand, sir. Good evening.” 

“Good-evening,” said the bear; and Alfred went off, 
more down-hearted than ever. His wrath against old 
Holden was unbounded. 

He went home, trying to subdue his grief and to appear 
cheerful before his friends, and resolved to make no fur- 
ther effort to see Lucy. 

But three days afterward he saw the advertisement 
which proclaimed her flight and offered a large reward for 
her restoration to her friends, and then all his feelings 
changed. New hope took possession of his mind, and new 
love, which, with pity for her sufferings and fear for her 
safety, plunged him into a vortex of intense excitement. 

He at once gave himself vigorously to the work of look- 
ing for her — both in person and by agents. He employed 
detectives — he advertised in the “personal” columns of the 
papers, over the signature “Alfred L.,” imploring her to 
give him some clew to her retreat. 

For a few days he was sanguine of success, but when 
weeks had passed without bringing any response to these 
appeals, his heart misgave him, and he indulged in the 
most gloomy forebodings. 

The Holden advertisement had spoken of the missing 
girl as having “wandered from home during a slight 
aberration of mind, resulting from sickness,” and the 
newspaper articles which from time to time appeared on 


BOXY EASTINGS. 


137 


the subject spoke in a similar vein, and intimated fears 
that the unfortunate lady had committed suicide. 

When Alfred learned, as he did, for somehow these se- 
crets will leak out, that Lucy had never heard of his es- 
cape, and that she had been suffered to believe that his 
dreadful sentence had been put in execution, he began to 
fear the worst— nay, to make sure of it. He knew her gen- 
tle, loving heart, and he could imagine how the intensity 
of her prolonged distress might drive her to madness. 

After several weeks of this suspense these suspicions re- 
ceived a terrible confirmation. 

The body of an unknown female was found in the Hud- 
son River m a state which defied complete identification, 
but answering in size and shape, and in many minor par- 
ticulars, too closely to the lost girl to admit any reasonable 
doubt of the dreadful truth which had been so long sus- 
pected. 

The Holdens, long harrowed by fears, gave a reluctant 
but decided acquiescence to the painful theory, and gave 
solemn and ostentatious sepulture to the deceased, over 
whose remains a costly monument was reared. 

If Mark Holden was conscience-stricken he showed no 
signs of it. Remorse wrung no self-accusation from his 
steeled heart. There was something of the decency of 
grief in his deportment — but that it was unmixed with 
wrath at the obstinacy of his daughter, or contempt of her 
folly, who shall say ? 

With that same dark frown with which he had heard of 
Lucy’s flight— with that same stern compression of the lips, 
did he now take part in these sad obsequies ; and whatever 
emotions may have raged within his breast, no eye could 
have been dryer than that of this imperious man. 

With Mrs. Holden the case was different. All the mother 
revealed itself in her when the conviction forced itself 
upon her mind that her daughter had been driven to 
madness and self-destruction by parental cruelty, and her 
moans and self-reproaches were terrible to hear and impos- 
sible to repress. . , , 

But upon Alfred' Lee the Woav fell with heaviest force. 
His grief following so closely upon his recent excitement 
and privations, proved too much for his exhausted poweis, 
and prostrated him for weeks upon a bed of suffering, 
whence his recovery was for many days doubtful. But na- 
ture rallied, and he walked forth again a shadow of his 
former self, wondering often, wondering earnestly, at this, 
his second escape, from a death which he would gladly 


138 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


have welcomed as a refuge from irremediable grief. But 
there were others to live for besides himself, and he re- 
solved to bear the burden of life as cheerfully as possible — 
not without hope that the goading memories which now 
tortured him might, with the lapse of time, lose something 
of their poignancy. 

He had written to Hartley on his arrival at Fortress 
Monroe, announcing his safety, and begging t be informed 
of his friend’s condition, and especially whether any pun- 
ishment had been inflicted upon him for his humanity, and 
also promising to watch diligently for an opportunity to 
transmit some funds to him. To this letter he had re- 
ceived, while staying in Washington, the following brief 
reply : 

“ My Dear Friend : I am so rejoiced to hear of your escape that I 
can think of nothing else. My punishment has been light, and it is 
passed. Hess does not fare so well. Do not send me any more 
money, for I do not need it ; and if the sum is large I should not be 
permitted to receive it. My health improves. If I am exchanged I 
hope to be able to come and see you. My letter is short for obvious 
reasons. Your friend, Louis.” 


CHAPTER XXVII. 

THE WILY WIDOW. 

Mr. Burr did not wear mourning for Miss Holden, nor 
did he attend the funeral. 

He ignored his late engagement as far as possible, and 
broke off all intimacy with the Holden family. He secluded 
himself from society, though he was occasionally seen in 
business circles, but he no longer manifested his accus- 
tomed ardor in the chase of fortune. It was not grief but 
mortification that weighed him down. 

That a young lady should commit suicide to escape 
marrying him, and that the world should know it, was a 
source of perpetual humiliation to Jedediah, as it well 
might be. 

He had no confidants and few intimate friends, but he 
often felt a longing to unbosom himself to some one, and to 
hear some good-natured friend controvert the views which 
he took of his own position. 

At the hotel where he boarded there was a beaming 
widow of thirty-six, or eight, plump and radiant— one of 
those few favored mortals who seem born to attract all who 
come within their influence. 


UOXY HASTINGS. 


130 


She had two tall daughters with her, two sons at board- 
ing-school, and another at sea ; in fact, her oldest boy was 
a man in size, and almost so in years. 

Mrs. Bright— such was her name— was m ratner 
straightened circumstances, and was living, as she freely 
confessed, quite beyond her means, while she was seek;- 
ing a home in the country. 

Her husband had been supposed to be a prosperous 
merchant, and had always supported his family m good 
style, but when his estate was settled there were ^only a 
few thousands for the widow and children, who had been 
educated to an expensive style of living. , . _ 

More than a year had passed since his death, during 
most of which time the widow had been permitted to oc- 
cupy her former home, and when this had to be given up 
she had taken board with her daughters preparatory to 
their removal to some retired home far away from the 

g How they were to make their way she had no distinct 
idea, but that the boys would have to come home from 
school, and that they would all have to endure pi nation 
and toil, she had do doubt. . . . , » 

But the widow always looked on the bright side of 
things, and she did not give way to forebodings. She was 
such an amiable person, and so kind to every body, that 
the old beau had made her his confidant while his marriage 
was in prospect, and after it was broken off he was often 
tempted to go to her for sympathy and consolation. 

Itwaslolg before he could make up his mind to such a 
step but one afternoon he came home from Wall street 
with an added depression, growing out of a los s of eight or 
ten thousands in a stock operation, and wondering w 
there was in life to compensate for all its troubles, ne 
saunteTed into the ladies’ parlor, where Mrs. Bright 

Cll “II(dgho '^This is a world of trouble, Mrs. Bright,” said 
JedediaL, sitting down a little away from her, and drum- 

m ^orTpo°or d wi d d^w a, w h itl n five a children, yes ” said the 
lady Tooli^ anything but troubled; “but not for a rich 

S1 °*r1c1i ? n I’ve 'lost ten thousand dollars since yesterday 

m “What of that? I dare say you have a hundred thou- 
sand left.” 

Jededah smiled. 


140 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


“Yes, I should hope so,” he said. “Four times that and 
more, Mrs. Bright, but I’d give half of it to-day to — 
to—” 

“What?” asked the widow. 

“To recall the past,” said Burr, rising and walking across 
the room to where the lady sat, covering half the sofa with 
her voluminous crinoline. 

The widow pulled in her robes slightly as he approached, 
as if to make room for him, and Jedediah, taking the hint, 
sat down beside her. 

“How much of the past does my unhappy friend wish to 
recall ?” asked Mrs. Bright, smiling enough to show the tips 
of her glittering teeth. 

“I’ll tell you, madam. Since I have heretofore made 
you my confidante when — when I was happy, I will do the 
same in my present absolute misery, provided it is not 
disagreeable to you. ” 

“Certainly not ; I feel honored by such a proof of your 
friendship. But ‘absolute misery’ is a strong term, Mr. 
Burr. ” 

“Not too strong for my case. I wish I knew one stronger. 
I would use that. As it is, I say absolute misery. ” 

‘ ‘ I am sure that I am sorry for you, sir. ” 

“You ask me how much of the past I would recall. Just 
five months, which would take me back to a period pre- 
vious to my engagement to Miss Holden. ” 

“ But, my dear sir, bereavement is common — ” 

“Bah! I am not suffering from bereavement, madam. 
You know better.” 

“I — beg your pardon.” 

“I am not suffering from bereavement.” 

Mrs. B. replied only by a look. 

“You know,” continued Jedediah, “what the world says 
about this matter — ” 

The widow shook her head slowly. 

“And if you do not, or if you" are too good-natured to 
own it, I at least do. It says that Lucy was neither ill nor 
insane, except as she was made so by the attempt to com- 
pel her to marry a man too old for her, and whom she did 
not like. It says that she ran away from home to get rid of 
me, and that she drowned herself to get rid of me. That’s 
what it says. ” 

“You shock me. I know the world is censorious, but I 
have never heard this.” 

“Yet it would not be so much out of the way if it would 
lay the blame where it chiefly belongs. ” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


14l 

“And that is — ” 

“On Holden, who wanted a rich son-in-law, and who 
made me believe that I was a welcome suitor to his daugh- 
ter, 

“Yes. And you, were not you a little too willing to be- 
lieve this improbability in the face of some evident signs 
to the contrary ? I only guess at this Mr. Burr, but I want 
you to take your share of the blame.” 

■ “* admit it, my dear madam,” said Jedediah, humbly; 

but I did not know the strength of her attachment to Mr. 
Lee. I did not know his extraordinary history, or that she 
believed him dead, and it certainly was not I who withheld 
from her the knowledge of his escape.” 

“No; your share of the wrong done to Miss Holden 
seems to be small. What matter, then, what the world 
says ?” 

“A great deal. People turn and stare at me in the 
streets ; children whisper and point me out ; I am para- 
graphed in the papers ; I expect daily to be caricatured' in 
the shop windows, and I have threes men under pay to 
watch daily the cheap song stands and buy up and sup- 
press the doggerel song which I know will be published 
about me.” 

“You are too sensitive. A small part of these evils only 
exists in reality ; the rest your morbid fancy creates. Of 
course there is a little natural curiosity in regard to you 
just now— nothing more. The caricatures and songs which 
you dread will never appear, and people will cease to stare 
at you. ” 

“Do you think so?” 

“I do, indeed.” 

“You are very kind. You give me comfort. But those 
were certainly terrible things in the newspapers. ” 

“I did not see them. Think how few did— except entire 
strangers to you. ” 

“ Yes, there is comfort in that, but there will be more, 
and I can’t stand them — I’m sure I can’t !” 

“I think I could tell you — ” 

The widow hesitated, and a slightly heightened color 
was perceptible in her rosy cheeks. 

“What?” 

“ How to neutralize all such attacks, even if they are 
made. ” 

“Pray tell me, then, dear madam,” said Jededah, 
eagerly, making a motion as if he would have seized the 
widow’s hand in his thoughtless way. 


142 


ROXY HASTINGS . 


“You should brave public opinion instead of bending to 
it. People never laugh much at those who do not heed 
them. ” 

“ True. Why, you are quite a philosopher. But what 
shall I do? There’s my house and furniture. I dare not 
sell off the things at auction, as I want to, for I know what 
the jeering crowd will say when they get together there. 
The very auctioneer will make fun — I see his eyes twinkle 
and the smile twitching at the corners of his mouth — as he 
puts up the articles in the bride’s boudoir and comments on 
their beauty. ” 

“You are ingenious at self-torture.” 

‘ ‘ But I ask again — what shall I do ? How shall I brave 
public opinion ?” 

‘ ‘ Do whatever you choose, only do it boldly and openly. 
But if I might suggest — ” 

There was another little blush. 

“Pray do not hesitate. You are a most sensible woman.” 

The blush did not diminish as Mrs. Bright continued : 

“ I should advise you to marry some one else very speed- 
ily, and go to housekeeping in style in that very house. 
Get a wife suited to your years, yet young enough and 
handsome enough to make some figure in the fashionable 
world, when dressed as you can afford to dress her. Spend 
your money freely for a year or two, give fine parties, and 
my word for it, you’ll shut the mouths of the babblers and 
have society at your feet. ” 

Jedediah listened, open-mouthed, to this speech, and 
replied in a transport : 

“ It’s true, every word of it. Then we could travel, too.” 

“Don’t think such a thing until you have lived down 
public censure. Then you can go and come as you choose. ” 

“Why, you are a Solomon in — in crinoline, my dear 
madam,” said Burr, laughing, “and I’ll certainly follow 
your advice, if — if — ” 

“What’s the ‘if’ now, Mr. Burr?” 

“Why, if I can find the lady, to be sure— handsome, 
amiable, sensible, stylish — neither young nor old, and who 
will fancy me. Hie labor , hoc opus est. Excuse the Latin, 
but it means that it is a d — 1 of a job.” 

Jedediah stared hard at the widow as he said this, and 
called some fresh color to her cheeks. He talked on, walk- 
ing about, and surveying her from various points as he did 
so. 

“There’s Miss Boker in this very house, ” continued the 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


143 


lady, with a covert smile. “A trifle too old, perhaps — not 
quite handsome enough, and the least particle, too—” 

“ Stiff. Her name should begin with a P instead of a B.” 

Now the contrast between this maiden lady and the 
widow was in all respects so striking, and so immeasurably 
in favor of the latter, that if the result had been designed, 
it could not have been more telling in its effects upon the 
old bachelor. 

His eyes sparkled as they ran again over the fresh, smil- 
ing face of his mentor— over her beautiful bust, and leaped 
to the tiny feet peeping out from beneath her dress. 

The two tall daughters came in from walking at this 
juncture. They were blooming girls, both under seven- 
teen, and the widow did not seem at all to regret the inter- 
ruption. W ould not they be ornaments to any household ? 

After a little small talk, and any amount of giggling, the 
lively girls vanished as suddenly as they came, and Mr. 
Burr inquired, with a thoughtful air : 

“ How old are your daughers, Mrs. Bright ?” 

“Fourteen— and sixteen and a half, and a half, as the 
auctioneers say.” 

“And you have a son older?” 

“ Tom is nineteen. ” 

“Older than you were when he was born, now, I’ll be 
bound, madam.” 

“ A trifle — yes. You are good at guessing.” 

“And you have two younger ! Quite a family, I declare.” 

“Two dear boys. Oh, how I long to see them. We shall 
all be together soon in the country. ” 

“They’re a trifle wild and rude, like all boys, I suppose?” 

“ Frank and Freddy wild ! Oh, I only wish they were a 
little wild. They are too much like girls, the precious 
dears, so soft and gentle. There now — don’t ask me any 
more questions about them if you don’t want me to make 
a fool of myself. But I have told you the truth. ” 

So she had. 

“Why do you take them out of school ?” 

“Simply because I can’t afford to keep them there.” 

“Oh ! I — I — That could be — yes, I see.” 

The lady blushed and so did Jedediah, and yet the simple 
man of money had not the least idea that the bright widow 
was reading his thoughts, just as plainly as if they had 
been printed. 

“I — I should quite like to see your boys, Mrs. Bright.” 

“Would you ?” with a surprised air. “ You are very kind. 
They are only at Hoboken, and as I go every Saturday to 


144 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


see them, I will bring them over day after to-morrow to 
spend Sunday with me. ” 

“ Oh ! I should like to go to Hoboken— it’s a charming 
place. If you will allow me, I will — ” 

“Oh, certainly, if it is not too much trouble. I shall be 
glad to have company.” 

“We will consider it an engagement then,” answered 
Jedediah, and the word sounded strangely in the lady’s 
ears, who well knew that no double entente was meant. 

Thus ended the first condolence. 


CHAPTEE XXVIII. 

CHANGED FORTUNES. 

“Mamma, it is impossible to stay here another week un- 
less we have fall bonnets and dresses,” said Henrietta 
Bright, that evening, with an anxious look, quite in con- 
trast with her recent mirthfulness. ‘ ‘ If we are really as 
poor as you say do let us get off and hide ourselves in the 
country as quick as possible. I am ashamed to go out. ” 
“It’s terrible to be so poor,” said Nelly, the second 
daughter, “but perhaps it won’t be so bad when we get 
out of New York, where there’s nobody to see us.” 

“Ah ! you are much mistaken, Nelly. There’ll be enough 
to see us, and crow over us wherever we go. But as they 
will be strangers, perhaps it won’t be quite so hard to 
bear. ” 

“I don’t know,” replied the mother, thoughtfully. “I 
expect an answer every day about that house in Nyack. 
But there’s positively no money for dress now. I can just 
pay our board, and the children’s board and schooling, out 
of the funds in hand, and what we are to do I don’t know. 
Part of our little principal will have to go for furniture 
when we do get the house, and then our income will be re- 
duced by so much. ” j 

“And there’ll be rent, and provisions, and fuel.” 

“And clothes, and schooling, and a hundred little 
things,” resumed the mother. t 

“It’s terrible to be poor,” repeated Nelly. “There’s the 
Misses Gobleigh we met this afternoon, so magnificently 
dressed, just returned from Saratoga, and going for a 
month to Newport. They looked so superciliously at us 
while they told us about it, that I felt as if I should drop.” 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


145 


“You’re a little goose then. Gobleigh has made a for- 
tune furnishing beef to the army. But when you we're a 
baby, not so very long ago, he kept a market, and we 
bought our steaks of him.” 

“It don’t make any difference. They have money, and 
we haven’t. I’d sell steaks, too, or codfish, or red her- 
rings, or anything else, to get rich. ” 

“Well,” said the mother, smiling, “perhaps something 
will turn up, as Mr. Micawber says. Be patient. People 
never get out of trouble any sooner for grumbling.” 

“Mother is always so cheerful. I believe if she was going 
to the guillotine she’d enjoy the scenery on the road.” 

The widow laughed, and added : 

“You promised to spend a day with the Wilkes at Tarry- 
town before we left the city, didn’t you?” 

“Oh, yes,” said the girls, eagerly. “Can we go?” 

“You may go Saturday. I can spare you money enough 
for this. Write to-morrow, and tell them you are coming.” 

Saturday came. The girls went at nine, and, after they 
were gone the mother dressed herself over with much 
c^re, to go and see her children at Hoboken. 

Doubtless she was anxious to appear well before the little 
dears, for she had never in her life been more particular 
in the selection and adjustments of every article of her 
wardrobe, to say nothing of the brushing and waving of 
her very beautiful hair. 

Somehow it happened that nothing had been said about 
this expedition at table (why should such a trifling affair 
be proclaimed?), and Jedediah had, with a strange lack of 
politeness, proposed to meet the widow at the ferry, at 
such hour as she should name. 

She named eleven o’clock, and when, punctual to her ap- 
pointment, she arrived at the river in a stage, she was sur- 
prised to find Jedediah waiting for her there, with a car- 
riage. This seemed a useless expense now, as they had al- 
most no distance to go on the other side ; but she made no 
comment, except to say, as she sank back upon the spot- 
less and luxuriant cushions : 

“How do you find such nice hacks, Mr. Burr? I declare 
this looks as if it had neyer been used.” 

“It never has been, until to-day, madam. It was only 
finished last week. This is my own.” 

“Oh, I beg your pardon. I was not aware that you kept 
a carriage. ” 

“I never did. I ordered it, with the rest of my follies, 


U6 ROXY HASTINGS 

but perhaps I shall find use for it one of these days, when 
I get that wife you speak of. ” 

u Oh, undoubtedly. ” . 

They were on the river now, and Jedediah, who sat on 
the front seat, facing the lady, could not avoid seeing how 
beautiful she was ; how much in keeping with the rich in- 
terior of the vehicle ; how she lighted it all up with her 
smiles, and gave a fresh charm to the very upholstery. 

He warmed up wonderfully, said some gallant things, 
and, when they had crossed, proposed a drive down the 
river road. 

“But the children?” said the widow. 

“Oh, I forgot. Yes, we might call and see them first. 
You won’t be long, I suppose?” . 

“Why, the dear little fellows always expect quite a visit 
from me on Saturdays, which is their holiday, but as I 
have brought them some ‘goodies,’ perhaps they 11 let me 
off while they are eating them. ” 

“Hem! There’s a confectionary store, now. Allow me 
to add something to your store, and then they will give us 
the more time.” 

“Thank you. I cannot refuse your kindness, though I 
must limit my boys to small rations of such luxuries.” 

They stopped, and Burr purchased pound after pound of 
the choicest candies, two loaf cakes sugared and fruited, 
and a couple of costly toys. 

“We’ll buy them off,” he said, laughing, as the packages 
were carried out and placed in the carriage ; “we’ll buy 
them off, unless they’re a pair of unreasonable little toads.” 

“Oh, they’ll be in ecstasies!” said the widow, radiating: 
delight from her eyes, and cheeks, and teeth, and looking 
as if she thought of nothing in the world but her children’s 
happiness.” 

Simple Jedediah believed it, and admired her all the 
more. They were not long in driving to the boarding- 
school, where, having been shown into the parlor, they 
awaited the children, who had to be sent for from an ad- 
jacent play-ground ; and the visitors were, meanwhile, en- 
tertained by the lady of the principal, a solemn visaged 
woman, with a descant upon the varied merits of the two 
pupils, including their docility and their wonderful pro- 
gress in learning. 

They came soon, rushing breathlessly in, each emulous 
to get the first kiss, and a pretty pair of curly-headed chaps 
they were, of whom any mother might have been proud. 

“My Franky ! my Freddy !” exclaimed the widow, hug- 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


147 


ging and kissing them by turns, without the least apparent 
regard for her elegant dress, or bonnet, or ribbons, vail, 
or hair — all of which suffered a little from the precipitate 
grapple of the darlings. 

“He’s too young to be away from his mamma,” she said, 
clinging tenderly to the smaller of the two boys, while a 
real, genuine, bright, glistening tear stole down the 
widow’s cheek, subduing the least doubt of her excellence 
in the mind of Jedediah, and quite completing her con- 
quest. 

The call was a short one. The presents were distributed, 
and the room echoed with shouts. 

Jedediah petted and praised the children, praised the 
lady of the house, the school, the weather, everything, and 
then rose to go. 

“They’ll let us off now, I think, Mrs. Bright,” he said. 

There was a violent protest, but a little coaxing and a 
promise to look in again on their return quelled the mu- 
tineers, and mamma was let off. 

“They are noble boys,” said Burr, as the carriage rolled 
off. “ The younger is very beautiful, and he is the image 
of — of his mother. ” 

“Oh, Mr. Burr!” 

“Fact, madam,” said Jedediah, who had taken a back 
seat this time beside his companion, crowding her ample 
crinoline a little, but seeming quite unaware of that cir- 
cumstance. 

“I never flatter,” he continued, “unless the truth is flat- 
tery, and I say little Freddy is the image of his — his beau- 
tiful mamma.” 

The widow blushed deeply now ; but she laughed, too, 
and did not seem painfully embarrassed.” 

“I declare, you will make me quite vain !” she said, not 
knowing what else to say. 

“You have a right to be. Who has a better right?” 

“But you know, Mr. Burr, that pride and poverty do not 
go well together. ” 

“Poverty ! I wish you were ten times poorer than you 
are.” 

“You cruel man !” 

“I wish your children were in rags.” 

“You monster !” 

“Yes, in rags 1” 

“Why? Why? Why?” 

“So that I should have the more pleasure in offering 
you, as I do now, my fortune, my house, my hand.” 


i48 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


Well done for Jedediah. 

“Mr. Burr!” exclaimed the widow, half averting her 
face, and half hiding the real blushes that mantled her 
cheek, “are you in earnest?” 

“Never more so — never half as much so in my life, Mrs. 
Bright. Will you accept me?” 

“With all my heart, ” said the lady, frankly, extending 
her hand, for she was too candid to affect a reserve that 
she did not feel. 

The lover took the offered hand and kissed it, or rather 
he kissed the glove which enveloped it, but he pronounced 
it unsatisfactory, and he at once aspired to the widow’s 
lips, which were not refused him. 

“I decided on it Thursday afternoon,” he said; “and I 
have no doubt we shall be very happy. ” 

“I am sure we shall,” said the lady, with one of her 
brightest smiles, “ only — only I fear — ” 

“Fear! Pray, don’t use that word, my — my dear ma- 
dam.” 

“That the children — so many of them — ” 

“Not a bit of it. I wouldn’t mind twice as many — such 
nice ones. Why, they’ll be the life of the house.” 

“You are very, very kind.” 

“What difference does it make? I’ve plenty of money, 
and I begin to think there’s as much pleasure in spending 
it as in making it almost. ” 

Adversity had done Jedediah good. He was just finding 
his heart, which had been covered up for a quarter of a 
century, under a mass of rubbish. He had begun to feel 
for other people. 

Before the drive terminated everything was settled. The 
wedding was to be put off a few months out of considera- 
tion for the feelings of the Holden family, and in the 
meantime the engagement was to be kept strictly secret, 
except that the lady was at liberty, if she chose, to divulge 
it to her daughters. 

In pursuance of this plan Jedediah and his blooming 
fiancee , after another short visit to the children, recrossed 
the river, and parted where they had met, at the ferry, 
whence the widow pursued her way home by stage, re- 
volving her suddenly changed fortunes. 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


149 


CHAPTER XXIX. 

THE TRANSPORT OF THE GIRLS. 

A day or two later Mr. Burr, carrying out his new role 
munificently, brought his beloved Louisa a bank-book, 
showing not a few thousands placed to her credit, and said : 

“You’ll want a little extra pocket-money for prepara- 
tions, both for yourself and your daughters. You have so 
frankly told me of your straightened circumstances, before 
our engagement, that you cannot refuse to accept of this. 
Use it freely, the more freely the better I shall like it.” 

The widow acknowledged this generosity with tears, and 
so her admirer saw her in still another phase of her beauty. 

“There is the key of our house,” he said ; “if you will 
look in some day and see if anything needs alteration, I 
will be obliged.” 

“Oh, I am sure that is unnecessary, but I will go and see 
it to-day, for I have the greatest curiosity. But is it quite 
safe to leave a furnished house entirely unoccupied so 
long ?” 

“Not quite — no. But there are the public watchmen and 
the private watchmen — we must take our chance.” 

An hour later, after Jedediah had gone to Wall street, 
the postman brought a letter for Mrs. B. , which bore the 
post-mark of Nyack, and which one of the daughters 
eagerly received from a servant who brought it up to their 
room. 

“Now we shall know about the house.” said Henrietta, 
eagerly. “May I open it, mamma?” 

“Oh, yes— certainly.” 

She tore it open, and after glancing a few moments over 
it, said : 

“Yes, we can have it, at our price — two hundred dollars 
— but we must give security for the rent. Can we do that, 
mamma ? 

“Of course we can,” replied Nelly. “There’s Uncle 
George — ” 

“I don’t know about Uncle George ; besides, who wants 
to ask him ? It isn’t so very pleasant a thing to do.” 

The widow watched the anxious faces of her daughters 
with a smile. 


150 


liOXY HASTINGS. 


“There’s mamma, serene as usual,” said Henrietta. 
“ She has no fears about the security, nor anything else, 
I believe. What do you think, mamma ? Can we get it ?” 

“ Oh, yes ; I presume so. ” 

“And how soon can we go? Do let us get away before 
we waste any more money paying these high prices here. 
Then, perhaps, we’ll have a little left to get ourselves 
something decent. Look at that bonnet ! I can’t do any- 
thing with it. I’ve been at work on it all the morning.” 

“Go and get a new one, Netty, and you also, Nelly,” said 
the mother, handing out her purse. 

The girls looked up surprised and incredulous. Netty 
took the purse, laughing, and said : 

“There’s nothing in it, I know.” 

But it was quite well filled with money, which had been 
kept ready to pay the semi-monthly board bill, due the 
next day. 

“Mamma ! Are you in earnest?” 

“Quite so.” 

“How high may we go?” 

“What do the best cost this fall?” 

“The best ! Oh, it’s useless to talk about the best. Such 
a one as Miss Gobleigh had — oh ! what a love it was ! — is 
at least twenty dollars. But I think we can get them for 
twelve, if — if that isn’t too much.” 

“Get Gobleigh bonnets, my dears, by all means,” said 
the widow, laughing, as, taking back the purse, she handed 
them forty dollars out of it, “and stop in at Stewart’s while 
you are out and look at some silks and poplins for dresses. 
To-morrow I will go with you and buy them. ” 

The half crazed girls threw their arms about their 
mother’s neck and kissed her, and then hastily made 
themselves ready to go out, yet without ceasing to exclaim 
and wonder. 

“We’ll astonish the Nyackers,” said Nelly; “won’t we, 
Netty ?” 

“Not more than we are astonished ourselves, I guess,” 
said Netty, laughing. “I am sure mamma must have 
drawn a prize in a lottery. ” 

The bonnets were bought after many exciting discus- 
sions and much running to and from the milliner’s, but 
they were, of course, taken back for some alterations of 
the flowers to suit the complexion of the wearers. So much 
time was consumed in these negotiations that the shopping 
for dresses was postponed until the next day, and in the 
afternoon, when the excitement of the young ladies had 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


151 


slightly subsided, their mother proposed a walk, to which 
they gladly agreed. 

“We can afford to go shabby to-day,” said Nelly, “since 
we are to dash out so soon. ” 

Yet they were by no means shabby. 

They were quite respectable, and all the finery in the 
world would not have added as much to their beauty as 
did the smiles and cheerful looks which now lit up their 
countenances. 

They walked in the Fifth avenue, and it being a pleas- 
ant afternoon, the street was gay with promenaders, as 
well as with carriages of various descriptions rolling past 
them, and flashing back the sunlight from their glittering 
wheels and from the silver-mounted harness. 

New York had never looked so beautiful to the sisters as 
now, when they expected so soon to leave it, and a feeling 
of dejection came over them at the thought of their new 
home. 

“It will be dismal enough at Nyack, of course,” said 
Nelly, “but — but we won’t complain,” she added, catching 
a reproachful glance from her mother. “We will do the 
best we can.” 

“Can you guess where I am going this afternoon?” 
asked the widow, looking at the numbers on the doors. 

“Oh, to call on Mrs. ” 

“No, to call on nobody. I am going to look at Mr. Burr’s 
house, which we have heard so much about. He gave me 
the key this morning, and said I could go all through it if 
I wished. They say it is splendidly furnished.” 

The girls were in high glee at this prospect. 

“Poor old fellow !” said Henrietta. “He don’t look as if 
his money made him very happy. ” 

“Oh, he has been as merry as a cricket the last few 
days,” the younger sister replied. “But I wish he wouldn’t 
chuck me under the chin, as if I were a child.” 

“Henrietta, you must learn to use more respectful lan- 
guage,” said the widow, severely. “‘Poor old fellow’ is 
not a proper phrase to apply to Mr. Burr. ” 

“Oh, mamma, I am sure I heard you speak of him in 
those very words only a few days ago. ” 

“Did I?” said the mother, laughing. “Well, we’ll both 
learn to be more polite, then. ” 

“Since he is going to let us see his fine furniture.” 

They found the house, and not without some hesitation 
decided to go in. 


152 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“It will look so strange,” said Nelly. 

“But there is no one here who knows us. Come on,” re- 
plied the mother. 

They entered, and having locked themselves in, com- 
menced a survey of the premises. 

Everything was perfect. Nothing could be handsomer 
nor in better taste than the furniture. The rich tapestry 
carpets, the immense mirrors, the lace and damask cur- 
tains, the elegantly carved rosewood chairs, sofas and 
piano, and countless minor articles, by turns elicited the 
admiration of the ladies as they wandered through the 
large parlors, three deep, under lofty ceilings, and great 
far-branching chandeliers. 

Throughout the house all was in keeping, and when all 
had been explored and admired, the party returned to the 
parlor, where Nelly threw herself into a large chair and 
said : 

“I’m sorry we’ve seen it, after all. It will make our own 
home look so mean and insignificant. ” 

“Oh, dear ! oh, dear ! Why couldn’t we have been rich?” 
added Netty ; “or at least not so very poor ?” 

44 Mamma doesn’t look the least envious,” resumed the 
elder sister. “She seems to enjoy all as much as if it were 
her own.” 

“Would you like to live here ?” the mother asked, calmly. 

“Would you have liked to live in the garden of Eden?” 
said Nelly. 

“Because if you would,” continued the widow, “we will 
move in about Christmas. ” 

“Oh, we had better stay now, as we are already in posses- 
sion.” 

“But really, Nelly, I am quite in earnest.” 

There was something in Mrs. Bright’s eye, as well as in 
the tone of her voice, which arrested' the jocose reply of 
her daughter, and sent a strange thrill through her frame. 

“ If you and Netty do not object to a new papa,” added 
the widow, making the avowal with an effort, even before 
her own daughters, and blushing crimson as she did so. 

The scene which ensued could not easily be described. 

The transport of the girls was unbounded, and for many 
minutes they were almost incoherent in their ejaculations 
and in the questions with which they rapidly plied their 
mother, who could get no chance to answer them, nor 
scarcely to breathe, under their kisses and caresses. 

“ That is the secret of the new bonnets and dresses, of 
course ?” 


fiOXY HASTINGS, 


153 


“And we sha’n’t want the Nyack house.” 

“Nor have to give security.” 

“I thought it was strange you should come here.” 

“ How rich is he ?” 

“Do you really like him?” 

“ What shall we have to call him ?” 

“I hope he ain’t cross?” 

“ I wish we could have the house and money without 
him.” 

“Netty, you impertinent puss ! How often shall I have 
to warn you to put a check on your tongue ?” 

“ I am dumb, mamma. ” 

Such was a part of the conversation which followed this 
disclosure. The excitement ran high for the rest of the 
way, and in the evening the widow informed Mr. Burr 
that she had let her daughters into the secret, but that it 
would be allowed to spread no further. 


CHAPTER XXX. 

A MYSTERIOUS EPISTLE. 

We must now return to Charles Lee, whose fortune had 
attained such colossal proportions as to quite oppress him 
at times with a sense of its magnitude. 

Oil was to him what the lamp was to Aladdin, and while 
he hesitated to sell any of his shares in the great com- 
pany, its stock continued to rise in the market, until it 
would bear a second “watering.” 

The stockholders were counted by hundreds, the board 
of directors comprised many of the heaviest capitalists in 
the city ; new wells were constantly going down, and new 
rivers of oil were spouting up. 

Yet through all this the owner of one-half of this vast 
property successfully preserved his incognito by the aid 
of his friend, Ogilvie, in whose name his shares stood upon 
the books of the company, while the certificates were in 
Lee’s hands, together with powers to transfer, executed in 
blank. 

But after the second dilution of stock, which still came 
nimbly up to par, rising like the flowing liquid it repre- 
sented, Charles sold out half his shares, and invested the 
proceeds, amounting to several millions, in government 
bonds. 


154 


HOXY HASTINGS. 


In the meantime he kept his secret also from his own 
family, with whom, while he saw that they wanted for no 
comfort and few luxuries, he continued to live in an unos- 
tentatious style, in the two-story wooden house, to which 
they had moved when his fortunes began to mend. 

That he had a competence, or some business which 
yielded, at least, the most ample means of present support, 
his relations well knew, but they felt no security against 
the future, and his mother and sister often tried to check 
him in seeming extravagant expenditures. 

“It would be better to be a little more economical,” his 
mother said one day, “ and then, if there is anything to 
spare, let poor Alfred travel this fall. He grows thinner 
and thinner, his appetite fails, and though he tries to keep 
up a show of spirits, I am sure he is miserable. ” 

“ Good Heaven, mother !” said Charles, “ why have you 
not spoken of this sooner ? I — I have been so much en- 
gaged, I have not noticed it. I thought he was quite com- 
fortable, and that he would come freely to me for anything 
he wanted. Indeed, I know he has some hundreds, for 
which he does not seem to find use. ” 

“Because he does not think he can afford to spend it for 
anything but necessaries. He told Laura only yesterday 
that he ought to be doing something, and not living here 
on you. ” 

“ Bless me ! I had no idea of this. He must not feel 
like that. I have been very unkind and thoughtless. ” 

“ But what can you do for him now ?” 

“ Anything you think proper. Anything he wishes.” 

“Perhaps you don’t appreciate the cost. He ought not 
to travel alone — ” 

“He shall have a servant, and go where he will. He shall 
be stinted in nothing. Call him, Laura, if you can get him 
away from his books, to which he sticks quite too closely. 
Call him, and let’s have it settled.” 

“ His books keep up his spirits more than anything else, 

I believe. He has translated half a quire of odes from 
‘Horace’ ” said Laura, “and I don’t know but he has taken 
to writing poetry himself. ” 

“Well, I am glad that he finds something to interest him. 
Poor fellow ! he has had trouble enough.” 

When Alfred came he demurred to the proposed plan of 
travel. 

“I think it’s quite bad enough,” he said, “that I am 
playing the drone at home, and bringing nothing into the 
hive, without wasting Charley’s money, which is needed 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


155 


for your support, mother, and Laura’s. Think how much 
I have already cost him. ” 

“ Well, you are worth all you cost, Alf,” said his brother, 
laughing, u and I want to have my way in this matter. 
Don’t you enjoy travel?” 

“ Yes — everybody does, I believe.” 

“Well, then— you enjoy it— it will benefit your health— 
and we all want to get rid of you. There are three reasons 
for your going. As to your servant — ” 

“ Servant !” echoed Alfred, in amazement. 

“ Why, yes ; we decided that before you came in. You 
are feeble, Alfred, and need looking after. If Luke is not 
too old — ” 

“Sure enough, there’s Luke— we never thought of him,” 
added the mother. “He would be far better than a stranger. 
You can rely upon him, and he would be in some respects 
a companion to you. ” 

“That he would,” replied Alfred; “we could talk over 
old times together, but — ” 

“No— no— no more ‘buts’ now. The question is settled, 
excepting as to where you are to go. That we will permit 
you to decide for yourself. ” 

“Abroad,” said the major; “across the ocean, of course, 
to see the old world. ” 

“I should be ashamed to go there until I had first seen 
something of my own country. If I could do both — ” 

“Of course you can,” Charley interposed. “Don’t let us 
have any more ‘ifs’ now.” 

“Well, I’ll be blamed if I understand it,” said Alf, laugh- 
ing heartily, “but I’ll go it. I’ll spend a month seeing the 
great West, and then I’ll return here for a short visit be- 
fore embarking for Europe. I think I’ll spend the winter 
in Italy, and in the spring make the grand tour. I’ll take 
Luke for a servant, if he likes to go ; if not I’ll find a 
younger man. What do you say to that ?” 

“All right,” answered Charles. “That’s the way I want 
to hear you talk. I’ll see that you don’t lack for the 
wherewithal. ” 

Luke was still in the city, where he had found a pleasant 
house among people of his own color, who had persuaded 
him not to go to Norfolk to reside until after the close of 
the war, lest some unlucky turn should throw that city 
again into the hands of the Confederates, and he should be 
re-enslaved. 

But in order to have Dinah informed of his changed 
purpose, Alfred had written two letters to her, in his 


156 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


name, and had sent one to Richmond, and the other to Nor- 
folk, inclosed to Methodist clergymen in those places, well 
known to Luke. 

“She sure to get one o’ dem,” he said, “and ef she don’t 
she’s got lots of money, and knows how to take care of 
herself. ” 

Luke was glad enough to travel as a servant to his young 
friend, for, though old, he was sufficiently strong and ac- 
tive for the light duties that were likely to be imposed 
upon him. So it was decided, and they were not long in 
making preparation. 

“ I think I will go down to the army, in the first place, if 
I can get a pass, ” the lieutenant said. “ I should like to see 
some of my old comrades, and perhaps I can get some 
news of Hartley, who has not answered my last letter. ” 

“ I can get a pass for you, ” Charles replied ; at least I 
know a man who can, and will. ” 

“ What can’t you do, Charley ?” said Laura. “ I should 
like to know. ” 

“I can’t satisfy your curiosity, Laura.” 

“No, that you can’t, until you tell me where all your 
money comes from, ” was the laughing reply. “I repeat, 
it will all stop short one of these days, and then we’ll be — ” 

“ In the gutter — eh ? Well, let’s enjoy it till it does stop, 
say I.” 

“ For shame, Laura. To talk like that, when you see 
how difficult it has been to overcome Alfred’s scruples. 
And you know these doubts displease Charles.” 

“Yes, mother, but it is so provoking not to know, you 
know. ” 

“I think I shall have to let Laura feel a little of the pri- 
vation she is so fond of predicting. ” 

“ Oh, you can’t, Charley. I have everything I want, and 
more money than I can spend in two months, and you’ll 
be sure to be good-natured again before that time comes 
around ” 

“ Very well. I don’t see but you’ll have to go unpunished, 
then. But if you’ll just keep my secret I’ll be obliged to 
you. ” 

“Keep it? But I don’t know it.” 

“ Of course not. I couldn’t think of tempting your in- 
firmity so far as to tell you. Keep what you do know of it, 
and then we shall be very good friends, I dare say.” 

Soon after Alfred’s departure Charles resolved to pay a 
visit to the Hastings family in Philadelphia, and also to 
take a trip to the oil regions, and gratify his curiosity as 


BOXY EASTINGS. 


157 


to the modus operandi in securing its liquid treasures. He 
should be gone nearly a week, he said, and the day after 
he left home a city letter was received by his mother, di 
rected to Lieutenant Lee, and marked in broad and school- 
boy characters in a corner of the envelope, “In great 
haste. ” 

It was only after much deliberation, and in view of the 
fact that it could not be forwarded to Alfred until they re- 
ceived advices from him, that Mrs. Lee and Laura decided 
to violate the seal of this mysterious epistle, the chirog- 
raphy of which denoted anything but an experienced or 
elegant penman. 


CHAPTER XXXI. 

THE GUEST. 

The first act of both mother and daughter, on opening 
the letter, was to look for the signature, and they uttered 
a joint exclamation as their eyes fell upon it : 

“Louis Hartley !” 

The contents were as follows : 

“ Dear Lieutenant You will be glad to beer that i bev escaped 
from ricbmond and are now in this city, though quite destitoot of 
money and every thing, i bed to kill 2 of the guard to git away and laid 
bid in the woods, 3 days travelin’ nites ; but I’ll tell you particulars 
when we meat, i bev found out ware you live and shall come and sea 
you to-morrer. I am rather feable to-day, hopin’ you are well and to 
hum i reman yours to command. Louis Hartley.” 

Mrs. Lee and Laura looked at each other in surprise and 
sorrow, when they had read this letter. 

“ Why, I thought he was quite a gentleman, from Al- 
fred’s account of him,” said Laura, “and it seems he is a 
low, ignorant fellow. ” 

“He must be very good, though,” said the mother, “and 
we can’t expect much from a common soldier in the way 
of education.” 

“ No, but how could Alf become so attached to him ? No 
matter. I am very glad he has escaped, and we owe him 
too much to criticise him very closely. We must ask him 
to come and stay with us, I suppose ?” 

“ Why, yes, we cannot do less than that ; and then, 
when Charley returns, he will know what further to do. ” 

The next morning, when their promised visitor arrived, 


158 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


the ladies were gratified to find him better looking and bet- 
ter dressed than his letter had led them to expect. He 
was a stoutish young man, seemingly about twenty-five 
years old, of rather handsome face, by virtue of a white 
skin, a red spot of the size of a dollar in each cheek, mut- 
ton chop whiskers, and a pair of black, sharp-looking eyes, 
and he was clad in a citizen’s suit of gray, not much the 
worse for wear, with fine boots, slightly cracked, and a 
soft hat. 

He was very glib of tongue, making instant inquiries for 
“ the lieutenant” as he shook hands with the ladies, and 
professing the greatest disappointment on hearing of his 
absence. 

“Don’t know what I shall do,” he said. “I’ve been quite 
depending on him, you see ; haven't another friend in the 
city, and, as I said, I’m quite — I don’t like to mention it — 
but really quite destitoot. ” 

Mrs. Lee begged him not to make himself uneasy on that 
score. 

“We are all so very — very, deeply beholden to you,” she 
said, putting her kerchief to her eyes. 

“ Why, yes, I got the lieutenant out of a bad scrape, to 
be sure, and had to sweat for it, I can assure you. ” 

“Ah, I am sorry to hear that. You know you wrote 
that your punishment was quite light, but I suppose you 
didn’t want Alfred to worry about you.” 

“Exactly ; yes, ma’am ; that was it,” said the visitor. 

“What was your punishment?” Laura ventured to ask. 

‘ ‘ The lash, mum ; sixty blows well laid on, three days 
runnin’ ; two weeks in the coal-hole after that, on black 
bread and water, and then another floggin’. Jist lived 
through it, mum. ” 

“Dear me, it was terrible !” said the widow. “We ought 
to be forever obliged to you, I’m sure. But you seem to 
look pretty well now. ” 

“Yes, mum; all the result of a good constertution, 
mum. I picked up wonderfully as soon as I got away, 
and began to git a little somethin’ good to eat. ” 

“But how did you get away?” 

“Well, I’ll tell you, mum. After I come out of the 
coal-hole, and hed my last floggin’, they put me back in 
that same room that the lieutenant and I was in, jist for a 
day or so, they said, till they knew where I was to go. 
And in the evenin’, when the guard came in, to see all 
right for the night, I leaped upon him like a tiger—” 

“Bless me !” 


BOXY HASTINGS . 


150 


“Jest like a tiger, mum, with bDth fists in his face, 
knocked him down and cut his — ” 

A motion of the hand finished this sentence, and elicited 
exclamations of horror from the ladies. 

“Then I tuk his revolver and put it in my breast-coat 
pocket, but I didn’t dare to use it on the man in the yard, 
you see, ’cause of the alarm it would give. So 1 jest crept 
behind him, it was a dark night, and served him as I hed 
the other one. ” 

“And you so weak and starved !” 

“Yes, mum, it was desperation, and I was allers supple, 
mum, from a child. Then I climbed over a ten-foot fence 
and skulked along till I come to the river, which I swum 
acrost — ” 

“With all your clothes on?” 

“Yes, mum; not these, though. I bought these second 
hand sence I got here ; I was all rags, and I had to borrer 
the money to pay for ’em.” 

“Well?” 

“Wal, then I made my way acrost the country, keep- 
ing as much north as I could till daylight, when I stopped 
in a piece of woods, killed a squirrel with a stone, made a 
fire, and cooked and eat him, and then I crawled into a 
holler log and slept all day.” 

“Is it possible ?” 

“Yes, ma’am — next two nights traveled jest the same 
sleepin’ day-times, and eatin’ anything — frogs, turtles, 
chippin’ birds — anything I could knock over, for I didn’t 
dare to fire my revolver, you see. ” 

“Of course not.” 

“And on the fourth mornin’ I brought up on the banks 
of the Potomac, ware I swum out to a vessel that was goin’ 
to Washington, and they tuk me on board.” 

“Why didn’t you go to our army ? It would have been 
so much nearer.” 

“Didn’t know the way, mum, and was afraid o’ bein’ 
gobbled up. So I kept straight north, and knew I must 
come out right. ” 

“But at Washington you met sympathy and — ” 

“ Not a bit of it — was told ef I went into the city I would 
be arrested as a deserter, onless I had some proof to the 
contrary. So I skulked off and come to New York, where 
the lieutenant can prove that I’m all right.” 

“ Yes ; well, Alfred will be delighted to hear of your es- 
cape,” said the widow, who vainly tried to subdue her hor- 
ror of the sanguinary man, and to believe that he had done 


160 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


what was right. “He will come immediately home when 
he hears of you being here, but it may be a week or more 
before our letters overtake him. ” 

“No, no, mum — he’s travelin’ for his health — don’t let 
me be a hinderance to him, mum. I’ve suffered for him, 
and I kin do it agin. Don’t call him hum, mum.” 

“That’s spoken like Louis Hartley!” said Laura, “but 
we must not let the generosity be all on your side.” 

“Certainly not,” added the mother. “I shall write to 
Alfred and Charles at once, but in the meantime we must 
ourselves assist Mr. Hartley, Laura.” 

“You are very good, but I would not take a dollar, mum, 
ef I didn’t owe a friend twenty-seven dollars and fifty 
cents that he advanced for me to git these clothes, besides 
eight dollars due for board, which is very high in this city ; 
and what I’m to do for the future, and to pay railroad fare 
to Washington, is more’n I can tell, I’m sure. But that 
isn’t your business, ladies.” 

“I’m sure it is our business,” replied Mis. Lee, promptly. 
“ What is a paltry sum of money compared to what you 
have done for us ?” 

She and Laura now whispered apart, and after some 
consultation the mother came forward, saying aloud, as 
she did so : 

“I’m sure that Charles would approve of it, or would 
blame us for doing so little. Take this,” she added; “it 
will relieve your present wants, and when my son comes 
home I am sure he will increase it many fold.” 

The man wiped his eyes with rather a fine white hand- 
kerchief for his circumstances, and then proceeded quite 
deliberately to count the money upon a table. 

“A hundred dollars! I’m really ashamed to take so 
much,” he said, slipping the bills into his vest-pocket, “but 
when I git ’dentified and paid off you’ll allow me to give 
this all back agin, mum. Promise me that, mum. ” 

“ If my son consents,” replied the widow, with an air that 
seemed to say she was safe enough there. 

“ ‘Pon that condition only I’ll consent to receive it,” said 
the man, who had already buttoned his coat very tightly 
over the treasure. 

“ What disinterestedness !” exclaimed the widow, in a 
low voice to Laura. ‘ ‘ In what school do you soldiers learn 
so much nobleness of character ?” 

“Don’t know, mum. I never went to school much. It 
comes nat’ral, I guess. Good-mornin’, ladies.” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


161 


“ How frank and literal ! You will come and see us 
again as soon as my son comes home ?” 

u The leftenant ? Oh, hevings ! yes, mum; in course.” 

“ But Charles, my younger son will be home in four or 
five days, and he will so long to see you.” 

“ The brother of my Alfred ! Yes, mum ; I shall be so 
happy to meet him. I shall come as soon as he returns, 
perhaps before. I know the way now, mum ; I know the 
way. Good-by !” 

The grateful man did not forget his munificent friends. 
He came the next day with a most sorrowful face to say 
that he was utterly ruined and undone forever, and that 
he had only looked in to bid them good-by before leaping 
into the river or blowing out his brains. 

When the terrified women had begged him to become 
quiet and to tell what was the matter, he proceeded to 
say that he had been robbed by a fellow-lodger of his 
pocket-book, containing every dollar that his friends had 
given him on the preceding day. 

“Tell the dear leftenant, mum, that my last prayers 
was for him, ” he said, “ but I never can survive sich a 
calamity. I shall just stop to write a note to the coroner, 
tellin’ him that nobody murdered me, and in two hours I 
shall be a cold — ” 

“Stop, Mr. Hartley, stop !” said the distracted widow. 
“Only wait till my son Charles comes — ” 

“It’s impossible, mum,” said the distressed man, beating 
his forehead and pulling at a handful of hair which did 
not come. “No, I ask nothing now but death, and that I 
will have.” 

Pale and trembling, the mother and daughter consulted 
together. 

“I’ll give him a hundred of my money , mother, ” said 
Laura. “I’m sure I ought not to hesitate a moment.” 

“Good — good-by!” said the desperate man, seizing the 
door-handle. 

“Wait — wait, Mr. Hartley! It shall all be made good. 
Laura has gone to get you another hundred.” 

“Can I believe my ears ! What angels are in this house ! 
But it shall all be returned some day, if — if I have to earn 
the money sawin’ wood at two cents a cord. Yes, mum, 
that’s the kind of man Louis Hartley is.” 

The money was brought and laid down with trembling 
fingers, and it was taken up and counted by very steady 
ones, and was securely pocketed and buttoned up as before. 

“You have saved a life this day , ladies, ” said the late 


162 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


determined suicide, “and what happiness oughtn’t that to 
give you when you lay down in your beds. ” 

“ I am sure the thought is delightful, and is worth a 
great deal more than the money. ” 

“Of course it is. Good-morning, ladies.” 

The visitor went out, but put his head back to ask what 
was the earliest day on which Mr. Charles Lee’s return 
could be hoped for. 

“ ’Twill be three days at the soonest.” 

“Ah ! I’m sorry it’s so long, but I’ll come and see you 
then, perhaps before.” 

Mrs. Lee and daughter, though disappointed in the want 
of culture and refinement in Alfred’s friend, felt assured 
of his honesty, and they were delighted to have made some 
return for all his self-sacrificing generosity. 

The next day their joy was heightened by an extraordi- 
nary circumstance. While perusing the morning news- 
paper Laura discovered and read aloud to her mother the 
following advertisement, which appeared in the personal 
column : 

“To Lieutenant Alfred Lee, late of the New York Volunteers. — The 
subscriber desires an interview for the purpose of obtaining informa- 
tion in regard to Louis Hartley, otherwise called Eldon, a late fellow- 
prisoner of Mr. Lee in Richmond. Any person who will send Mr. 
Lee’s address to the undersigned, at the St. Nicholas hotel, will confer 
a favor on an afflicted parent. Geo. Eldon.” 

Laura read this notice breathlessly, and said : 

“ Oh, isn’t this delightful ! We can bring father and son 
together now, and make both so happy. But there seems 
some mystery . about it, too. Louis Hartley, otherwise 
called Eldon ! I’ll write Mr. Eldon a note immediately ; 
sha’n’t I, mother?” 

“Yes, I should say that would be the proper course.” 

“And — and I won’t tell him that his son is in town. I’ll 
only say that he will get information of him by calling 
here. It will be so delightful to surprise them both by a 
meeting, and then we shall see it all, eh ?” 

“Yes — yes, that will be charming ; you are really quite 
ingenious.” 

It was past midday when Laura discovered the adver- 
tisement, and when she had written her note and taken it 
to the post-office the afternoon was well advanced. 

“ I fear he will not get it until morning,” she said, “but 
it is the best I can do.” 




BOXY HASTINGS. 


163 


But as they did not much expect to see Mr. Hartley on 
that day the ladies thought a little delay in receipt of the 
note would be of no consequence. 

They were agreeably disappointed. Their gratefuT friend 
returned a little before dark, looking particularly jolly and 
comfortable, and with a decided though not strong alco- 
holic odor in his breath. But the ladies were so happy 
with their secret, so full of the joyous surprise which they 
had in reserve for Alfred’s friend and rescuer, that they 
received him with increased cordiality, and found excuses 
for everything amiss. He unhesitatingly accepted an in- 
vitation to stay to tea, and his friends resolved to detain 
him if possible through the evening in the hope of Mr. 
Eldon’s arrival. 

They did not find this a difficult enterprise. Louis was 
very social, talked freely and in a lively manner on all 
topics, but when the subject of Alfred’s escape came up, 
which it did every few minutes, he seemed to avoid de- 
tails and to confine himself ,as far as possible to generali- 
ties. He seemed to be more than usually observing, too, 
closely eying some costly articles of virtu in the room, and 
taking especial notice of the watches and chains of his 
friends. 

As the evening wore away he complained of being ill, 
and remained for an hour in such a faint state, sniffing at 
hartshorn, though without any diminution of the red dol- 
lar-spots on his cheek, that Mrs. Lee begged him to stay 
all night, lest he might drop down on his way home. 

“Thank you; I — believe I will,” he said, “if it won’t 
inconvenience you too much. I’m really a little afraid to 
go out.” 

“Then we’ll have him here in the morning when his 
father comes,” Mrs. Lee said to Laura, “for it’s got to be so 
late I don’t think he’ll come to-night.” 

Yes, it happened very well, Laura thought — and as their 
guest seemed to think it would be better for him to retire 
immediately, he was permitted to do so on condition that 
if he felt any worse he was to notify his hostess, and allow 
the family physician to be sent for without delay. 

He was to be put in Alfred’s room, greatly to his satis- 
faction. “ Anything that reminded him of his dear friend 
was so pleasant,” he said. 

Being of an inquisitive turn of mind, the affable guest 
asked some questions of the servant, who showed him his 
sleeping apartment, which he was only too happy to answer. 


164 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


“Whose is the next room, my girl?” he said ; “the large 
one ?” 

“It's Mister Charley’s, sir, when he’s at home, but he’s 
away now.” 

“ And who sleeps in these little rooms ?” 

“Nobody, sir.” 

“ Then I shall be quite alone on this floor ?” 

“ Yes, sir ; Mrs. Lee and her daughter have a bedroom 
down stairs. So has Major Todd, and I sleep in the attic.” 

“ Oh, yes, I see. I only ask in case I should be sick, and 
have to wake any one. But I guess I’ll get through the 
night comfortably, though I may have to get up and go to 
the window for air, as I often do when I have these faint 
spells.” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“You needn’t mind me if you hear me up, unless I call 
to you.” 

“Yes, sir— no, sir.” 


CHAPTER XXXII. 

ROBBERY. 

We have said that Charles Lee had invested nearly half 
of his large fortune in government securities, which was 
both wise and patriotic. But he had done somethin^ less 
wise than this, for the bonds which he had bought, al- 
though all “ coupon bonds” and payable to bearer, he had 
deposited in a large locked trunk in his sleeping room, 
without any other precaution than to warn his mother and 
sister to take especial good care of the trunk in case of fire. 

Of its immensely valuable contents they knew nothing, 
and the careless young man had never given thought to the 
fact that he might as well have left so many bank bills 
exposed to the hand of the burglar. He had not even had 
the forethought to make a memorandum of the numbers of 
his bonds, which might enable him to stop payment of 
them in case of loss. 

If Mrs. Lee had known what treasures her house con- 
tained she would have felt safer for the presence of her 
lodger, whose integrity and courage she considered alike 
unimpeachable. 

Perhaps it was with the purpose of obtaining some idea 
of the premises and property which he had to guard, that 
the young man, shortly after the servant had withdrawn, 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


165 


opened the door which communicated with Charles’ room, 
and holding his lamp in hand, looked in. A glance showed 
that it was a handsomely furnished room, with a marble top 
bureau and tables, a large mirror and mahogany bedstead, 
and that there was a heavy substantial looking trunk 
standing near the head of the bed. 

He did not go in, but closed the door and took from one 
of his pockets a small box of wax matches, which he laid 
upon a table beside his lamp. He then blew out his light, 
and removing only his boots threw himself on the outside 
of the snowy counterpane, which covered Alfred’s bed. 

About two hours later when the house had become per- 
fectly silent, the strange man arose and lighted his lamp, 
turning the wick down so that it emitted but a feeble ray. 

Having made sure that his door was locked and that the 
window curtains were drawn, he passed with his dim light 
into the back room, where after similar precaution, he 
made a hasty examination of the room without any satis- 
factory results. The bureau drawers were not locked, but 
he found nothing in them but clothing, which he turned 
over carelessly, as if looking for something valuable and 
at the same time small and portable. 

He next knelt before the trunk, and putting down his 
light took from his coat-pocket several short pieces of wire 
of different thicknesses, a hooked instrument of steel, and 
other curious looking tools. 

In a short time the lock was broken, and the lid lifted, 
but while these things were occurring the sleepers below 
stairs had not been altogether undisturbed. 

Mrs. Lee, who had gone to sleep with her mind charged 
with solicitude for her lodger, was awakened even by the 
light steps overhead, and having roused her daughter, she 
requested her also to listen. 

“I am sure Mr. Hartley is up,” she said, “and if so he 
must be worse. What shall we do ?” i 

“Why, mother, there seems to be somebody walking in 
the back room,” replied Laura, “what can he be doing in 
there ?” 

“ Perhaps he walks in his sleep, or— or that stupid girl 
has put him in the wrong room. He may faint away there 
all alone.” 

“Oh, no, mother, he’ll certainly come down if he is ill.” 

“ I shall put on my double gown and go up and inquire. 
Suppose it was my son sick among strangers. ” 

The widow did as she had proposed. She went up stairs 


166 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


and knocked at the door of her guest, who, after a little 
delay, came to the keyhole and inquired who was there. 

“It is I, Mr. Hartley,” said the widow, “you are sick, I 
know, for we have heard you up a good while. ” 

“ Y-yes, I have been worse, and I have been opening the 
windows, front and back, to get a little air. I’m better 
now, thank you.” 

‘ ‘ I shall certainly call on one of the girls and send for 
my doctor, Mr. Hartley. I know you ought to have him. ” 

“ By no means, mum. I’m much obliged — but I’m very 
much better, and I should not see him if he came. I don’t 
believe in doctors. ” 

After a little further colloquy, Mrs. Lee retired satisfied 
that she had done her whole duty, and her lodger resumed 
his work with increased caution and silence. 

The interruption had occurred almost at the moment 
that the trunk had been forced open, and the inquisitive 
man now began hastily to explore the interior. One of the 
first objects which met his view was an oblong metallic 
box, about a foot long and eight or ten inches in width and 
depth, locked and rather heavy. 

It was the depository of Charles’ bonds, and the burglar 
placed it carefully upon a chair, while he looked further, 
and fished up from the bottom of the trunk an old disabled 
watch, and a few trinkets, which he slipped into his pockets 
without close inspection. He then wrapped the tin box up 
in his pocket handkerchief, for he did not dare to force it 
open, and retiring to his room on tiptoe, he remained per- 
fectly quiet for two full hours, after which he descended 
and let himself out at the front door without difficulty. 

The widow’s slumbers were peaceful for the remainder 
of the night, and so were Laura’s, who was up in good 
season the next morning, superintending the breakfast 
preparations, for her brother’s friend and rescuer, for 
whose appearance below stairs they waited long in vain. 

One of the servants had found the front door unlocked 
in the morning, but not doubting that it was the result of 
her own remissness on the preceding night, she was care- 
ful not to mention so trifling a circumstance. 

Breakfast waited long for Louis Hartley — so long that 
Laura became impatient, but still the mother refused to 
have him disturbed. 

“ He has been awake half the night,” she said. “ Pray let 
him sleep a little now. It is better than medicine. ” 

“But it is after nine and everything will be spoiled,” 


ROXY HASTINGS . 


167 


“Well, if we don’t hear him up in half an hour, I will 
call him, ” replied the mother. 

Before that time had elapsed there was a violent ringing 
at the door — and Laura, looking out from the breakfast- 
room window, in the basement, exclaimed : 

“ Here are a gentleman and lady — strangers. Probably 
it’s Mr. Eldon and his wife.” 

“All right, then,” replied the widow. “They are early, 
but they are very impatient, of course. ” 

A short, stoutish, sour-visaged man it was that Laura 
had thus caught sight of, and one whose countenance did 
not quite accord with the idea of an afflicted or affectionate 
parent. Let us take a look at him as, followed by a small, 
meek wife, the ghost of what had been a belle and a beauty 
twenty years before, he was admitted by a servant into 
Mrs. Lee’s parlor, where they awaited the arrival of that 
lady and her daughter. 

Half farmer and half lawyer, in a Western village, Mr. 
Eldon’s dress and deportment is a mixture of the two 
characters, for he wears thick boots and sheeps’-gray pants, 
with satin vest, black broadcloth coat, and a slouch hat, 
and a seal and chain hanging from his fob in old time style. 
His face is free from beard, his iron gray hair thin, and 
frizzly, straggles over a receding forehead, beneath which 
a pair of small, lead-colored eyes twinkle, and become very 
stony in their expression at times. If we add that Jhe was 
dark-skinned and had a little nose tipped with red, per- 
haps he will be sufficiently described. 

u I know it'll amount to nothing, Maria,” he said, crossly, 
“but you must be satisfied, I suppose.” 

“And poor Celia is so anxious,” replied the wife, depre- 
catingly, and as if afraid to claim anything for herself. 

“Oh, yes, anxious, you women are always anxious. 
What good does it do ?” 

“ But Miss Lee certainly says — ” 

“ I tell you it will amount to nothing, except our ex- 
penses to town.” 

“But you had business here.” 

“You hadn’t. Then there’s the advertisement, too. All 
money thrown away, and I told you it would be so. And 
all for a worthless — obstinate — ” 

“ Don’t — don’t say that of him now. Think what he has 
suffered, ” said the lady, putting a small torn kerchief to 
her eyes, and returning it very quickly to her pocket. 

“But there was no peace tili you came — and there’ll be 


168 ROXY HASTINGS. 

none when we go back, I know. Nothing but whimper- 
ing— ’’ 

“ But Celia—” 

The door opened and Mrs. Lee and her daughter entered 
at this juncture a little embarrassed. Mr. Eldon, who had 
Laura’s letter crumped up in his hand, quickly introduced 
himself without reference to his wife, whom he treated 
quite as a cipher. 

“My name is Eldon,” he said. “This letter, which I re- 
ceived in answer to an advertisement, is from one of you, I 
presume ?” 

“ From me, sir, ” replied Laura. 

“Yes. Well, I am obliged to you, miss, and now I will 
tell you briefly my business. I have a runaway son — an 
undutiful, disobedient — ” 

“ Oh, George !” expostulated a weak voice. 

“No matter. We have a son, Louis Eldon, who is, or 
was, in the army, having run away and enlisted, without 
my leave, and — ” 

“ But — but he never would have done it, if — if — ” 

“Can you keep still?” asked the husband, turning upon 
her fiercely. “ Does it take two to tell this story, or one ? 
That’s what I want to know.” 

“ Go on, George, ” the wife replied, with another hasty 
application of the torn kerchief. 

“As I was going to say,” continued the man, “we heard 
that he took the name of Hartley when he enlisted, and 
having seen in the published accounts of your brother’s 
escape the name of one Louis Hartley, who was said to be 
his fellow-prisoner, and to have aided him in getting off.” 

“Yes,” said the widow, who had listened very eagerly, 
and with a very happy face. 

“ Having seen this, I say, we naturally guessed that it 
was the same person — a guess which a letter, since received 
from Louis by his mother, confirmed. We now know it is 
our — our son.” 

“Yes.” 

“But Louis’ letter was written before Mr. Lee’s escape, 
of which, of course, it gives no hint, though it speaks of 
your brother as his friend. ” 

“Yes.” 

“Now, what we want is to know whether this foolish 
fellow, who put his neck in jeopardy so unnecessarily, has 
been heard from since the lieutenant’s escape — whether he 
is alive, in short, and — and all that you know about him. ” 

The widow’s face had lost a little of its radiant gladness 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


169 


during this rude speech, but when, at its close, the pallid 
mother of Louis rose trembling, and came forward with a 
very eager expression to hear the answer, her benevolent 
look returned, and she could contain her secret no longer. 

Laura, who had been addressed by the stranger, had 
looked to her mother for a reply, and the latter said, 
quickly : 

“ Do not be so distressed, my dear woman. For I — I have 
the very best of news for you. ” 

“ Thank — thank God !” 

“ Now, Maria, don’t be — ” 

“ But, in the first place, I should tell you that my son, 
the lieutenant, is absent from home, or he — ” 

“Oh, we know that,” replied Eldon, “from your daugh- 
ter’s letter.” 

“ Or, I was going to add, he would have been the first to 
greet the parents of his preserver.” 

“You are very kind,” murmured her mother. 

“Well, don’t interrupt her,” said Eldon. “Let’s get at 
the end of it.” 

“ In short, then, ” added the disturbed widow, “ your son 
is alive, and he is well. More than that, he is in this city. ” 

“In New York?” 

“And he is in this house.” 

“ In this house ? George ! George ! Do you hear that ?” 
exclaimed Mrs. Eldon, looking, with flowing tears, to her 
severe husband for some show of gladness at last. 

“It was like him not to come home,” said the father, 
gruffly. 

“He reached New York quite destitute,” resumed the 
widow, and naturally came directly to us, and we have 
been so glad to help him. ” 

Mrs. Eldon, after a timid glance at her husband, threw 
her arms around the widow, and kissed her, and then 
kissed Laura, after which she stealthily took out the little 
kerchief again, which was now reduced to a mere wad. 

“If you have done with that kind of business,” said 
Eldon, “ I should now like to see my son. ” 

“Don’t — don’t be severe with him, husband,” said the 
mother. “You know how Celia feels. Speak — speak kindly 
to him, and he will go home with us, I know. He is as 
gentle as a girl, if you only speak kindly fco him.” 

“I think I know how to speak without so much advice, 
Maria. Can we see him, madam? Where do you keep 
him ?” 

“Well, to tell the truth, he is not up yet — ” 


170 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“That’s like him, too. Ten o’clock in the morning.” 

“ He was a little unwell in the night, and did not get to 
sleep, I think, till very late. Breakfast has been waiting 
for him over an hour, and we were just talking about call- 
ing him when you rang. I will call him now. ” 

Mrs. Lee left the room for that purpose, saying as she 
went out : “I won’t tell him that you are here. It will be 
such an agreeable surprise when he comes down.” 

They waited long and impatiently for her return, and 
when at last she came she was looking much disappointed. 

“It’s very strange,” she said, “but he — he’s really gone.” 

“That’s like him, too,” replied Eldon. 

“I knocked at his door a long time,” resumed the widow, 
“ and then I called Sarah and told her to open it gently 
and look in. She looked in, and then went in, and she 
says the bed has never even been opened, and Bridget 
says that the front door was unlocked when she came down 
this morning.” 

“It’s very strange,” said the pallid Mrs. Eldon. 

“No, it ain’t,” said her husband, “nothing is strange 
that that boy does, unless he should do something reason- 
able.” 

“ Oh, I am sure he was sick and went off to see a doc- 
tor,” resumed the widow. “I wanted to send for one, but 
he wouldn’t let me.” 

The parlor door opened and Bridget rushed in exclaim- 
ing: 

“If you plaze, ma’am, the house is robbed intirely. Mis- 
ter Charley’s great trunk is broke open, and all the bureau 
drawers — and everything gone — and we found one of the 
villain’s tools on the floor before the trunk.” 

“ Mrs. Eldon had swooned before the servant was half 
through this speech, and even her husband turned pale, 
and for once seemed too much agitated to make a sneering 
remark. 

Mrs. Lee and Laura, and Major Todd (the major had 
glided silently into the room some minutes before) , were 
scarcely less excited, and while the old gentleman hurried 
up stairs with a view to learn the extent of the loss, the 
widow and her daughter gave their attention to the resus- 
citation of the fainting woman. 

She was soon brought back to consciousness and misery, 
and about coincident with her recovery, the old major re- 
turned to say that if Charles had anything valuable in his 
trunk it was gone, as nothing remained but his clothing. 
m “Oh, I know there must have been something of great 


ROXY HASTINGS. 171 

value,” replied the terrified Laura, “for he charged us so 
many times over to see to it in case of fire.” 

The benevolent widow had tried to prevent this being 
said before Louis’ mother, but all was confusion, astonish- 
ment, and grief. 

“Perhaps — perhaps he didn’t do it,” she said to the 
stunned and appalled mother.. 

‘ ‘ I cannot — I cannot believe it. My Louis ! My Louis ! 
Oh, no ! no ! no !” 

Eldon, who had been walking the room for some min- 
utes, stopped and said : 

“ How much worse is it than disobedience to parents, 
and running away? It’s only another step.” 

“Oh, he never would — never — if — if you had been a little 
more gentle with him, George. Never — never.” 

“Bosh ! If he could have been master he would have 
staid at home, of course. But he must enlist, and we all 
know what kind of a school for morals the army is. It’s a 
bad job — a dreadful bad job. State prison, of course.” 

Mrs. Eldon shrieked, and the widow quickly said : 

“No, no, no. My son never will prosecute, I am sure. 
Whatever Louis is, he saved Alfred’s life, and that obliga- 
tion can never be canceled. They never will prosecute.” 

“If they don’t somebody else may,” said Eldon. “We 
must find him, and get him sent off to sea ; to China, or 
Japan, or some more distant place, if there is any.” 

“ Where we shall never — never see him again. Oh, it is 
too horrible. It will kill Celia, and — and — oh, if we could 
only all have died, Louis and all, long, long ago, before 
this terrible thing happened — while he was innocent, inno- 
cent — oh, what a sweet word that is !” 

In the light of her great sorrow Mrs. Eldon seemed mo- 
mentarily to have lost her habitual awe of her husband. 
She walked the room frantically, she wrung her hands, 
and she no longer tried to -stop the course of the tears 
which ran in rivulets down her cheeks. 

“You forget that Mrs. Lee is also a sufferer in this 
affair, ” said her husband at last. 

“Yes, yes, I forgot, I beg her pardon. But money seems 
so small a matter now. He shall give it all back, madam 
— all — I know he will if I can see him. But, oh, that will 
not give him back to me, pure and innocent, innocent, in- 
nocent. Oh, God, that can never be !” 

What could be said to lessen grief like this ? The widow 
and her daughter did what they could to soothe her, and 
even Eldon was melted into something like mildness. 


i72 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


After a little while he proposed to depart, alleging im- 
perative business, and promising to see the Lees again be- 
fore he left the city. 

“If I can find my son,” he said, “and he has not already 
lost or squandered your property, all will be well in that 
respect. It shall be restored. ” 

“And if it is lost we will make it good, George.” 

“ I don’t know about that.” 

“ But I have a little property — that shall go toward it. ” 

“I don’t know about that either. But we’ll do our best to 
find him. I have not much hope myself, especially if he 
has made a large haul, but I shall advertise, and perhaps 
he will come to us — on your promise not to prosecute. 
May I put that in the advertisement ?” 

“Oh, yes, yes,” replied the widow. 

“Very well, I’ll try. Come, Maria, come.” 

But Maria proved unable now to walk without aid. The 
strength of her first excitement had passed, and having sat 
down, she found it difficult to rise — and another swoon 
seemed imminent. 

Mrs. Lee and Laura begged that she might stay with 
them through the day, and her husband, after some demur, 
consented, and went alone, promising to return after her in 
the evening. 


CHAPTER XXXIII. 

“that is not my son.” 

Breakfast, which had been all this time delayed, was 
now ordered, and Mrs. Eldon was prevailed upon to sit at 
the table and take a cup of tea, while her new friends did 
what they could to alleviate her distress. 

Major Todd had gone out after brief consultation with 
Laura and her mother to give notice of the robbery at a 
police station near by, and to describe as nearly as he 
could the appearance of the burglar. So much, he said, 
was absolutely due to Charles’ interests, whatever might 
be the result. If Louis was arrested and there was any 
way to shield him from punishment afterward, well and 
good. But they must not neglect any chance to recover the 
property, in regard to the nature or amount of which no 
one had any distinct idea. 

But what was the old major’s astonishment on telling 


KOXY HASTINGS. 


173 


his story at the police office to find that he was at once an 
object of general interest. 

“Lee, did you say? Lee?. Is that the name of the man 
that was robbed ?” asked one of the officers, coming for- 
ward. 

“Yes, sir, Charles Lee.” 

“You’ve come to the right spot, sir. Look at that. Is 
that his box ?” 

There was the metallic box unopened, and with the name 
painted plainly on the top, “ Charles Lee. ” 

“That’s it, sir, undoubtedly. I don’t know the box, but 
that’s my grandson’s name. His trunk was broken open, 
but we did not know what was taken out. He is away 
from home.” 

“ Is that his watch ?” 

“Yes. sir. I know it well.” 

“ That pin ; these studs ” 

“I don’t know them — very probably they were his.” 

“Would you know the burglar if you should see him? I 
understand you to say that he slept at your grandson’s 
house last night. ” 

“Yes, yes, we should all know him there.” 

“ Describe him as near as you can. ” 

The major did so. 

“That’s the man. We’ve got him.” 

“ How was he caught ?” 

“Binneydidit — that man yonder. He’s got owl’s eyes, 
and sees best in the night. I really believe his grand- 
father was an owl. ” 

Binney laughed and looked much pleased. 

“ He shall be rewarded, sir — I — I’ll see to that. But how 
was it done ?” 

“Tell him, Binney.” 

“Well, sir, I was on my beat near the corner of 

street, standing in a door way, shaded like, when I saw 
this man coming down the street, and thought there was 
something suspicious in his manner. I noticed twice as 
he came near a lamp that he crossed over, and that set me 
a th inkin’ — ” 

“And a blinkin’,” said the other. 

“Yes, if you choose. Anyway, I watched him from my 
hiding-place, and as he passed me, I saw that he had some- 
thin’ under the breast of his coat, which he held pulled 
over it with one hand. That was enough. I stepped out 
and grabbed him. ” 

“Bully for Binney.” 


174 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“ He gave one squalk, and dropped the box, and then 
showed light. But he only wanted one rap with this to 
make him reasonable, and I brought him along here, where 
he gave a very contradictory account of himself, though he 
said it was on account of the blow which kind o’ confused 
him.” 

“Give me Mr. Lee’s number,” said the other, “and I will 
bring him around for identification. He is in Eldridge 
street jail just now. I will bring the box and other things 
at the same time.” 

The major did so, and then in great glee returned home, 
where he found the ladies still at the breakfast-table. He 
called Mrs. Lee out to tell her the news, and when she had 
exulted over the recovered treasure they decided at once 
to tell Mrs. Eldon. 

“ She will want to see her son, of course, when they 
bring him,” said the widow, “and we ought to tell her at 
once. ” 

They did so, but the news added so much to the terror 
and grief of the poor lady that it was found difficult to 
pacify her. That her son had really been found with the 
stolen property on his person (the box, the watch, and 
trinkets) was such a terrible confirmation of the charge 
against him that there was no longer room for the faintest 
hope of his innocence. 

“ Did you see the poor boy ?” she asked. 

“ No, ma’am, but I described him to the officers — gray 
clothes, soft hat, fine boots, a little cracked — and they said 
it was the same. Besides it was in this very street that he 
was arrested — but we’ll get him off, ma’am. There’ll be 
nobody to appear against him — and — and Charley can 
manage it.” 

“Yes, yes, but you can never get the guilt off his soul, 
nor the disgrace off his name, nor close the horrible gulf 
that separates him from all that is pure and innocent — 
innocent. Oh, that sweet word ! How I value it now — 
now that I can no longer apply it to my Lewy. ” 

“God will forgive him, ma’am, if he is a true penitent,” 
said the major, “ and he will wash out his guilt in the 
blood of the Great Sacrifice. Then he will be innocent 
again, and as to the disgrace, there will be none, for we 
will hush it— hush it all up. You needn’t let even Celia 
know it, ma’am — I suppose that’s his sister.” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“Not even Celia— nobody but us— us and Charley. We’ll 
keep it even from Alfred. ” 


BOXY HASTINGS, 175 

“You are dear, good, noble people. Oh, if he had met 
with a little more kindness at home this would never have 
been. He was a dear, good boy ; he loved me ; he loved 

his sisters ; he never, never was false, or mean, or cruel 

never. But Eldon was too harsh with him. I always told 
him so, and I must say it now in vindication of my boy.” 

“ I believe you, ma’am. I saw his treatment of you to- 
day, and I believe you. ” 

“ I don’t wish to speak against my husband and before 
strangers — but for Lewy’s sake I’ll tell you how it was. 

We have a very small farm just out of the village of , 

and Eldon has a store in the village, too. ” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, our family is large— four boys and three girls — 
and Lewy is the oldest. He was always studious, and I 
wanted to educate him, and did partly with my own means 
— for I had a little income separate. ” 

“Yes.” 

“ How I worked and pinched myself to do it no one ever 
knew but Him,” she said, looking upward. “ All the while 
he was preparing for college at the village academy he 
worked several hours a day, and all day Saturday on the 
farm willingly, and at last he was examined and admitted 
at Union.” 

“ A good college it is, too. ” 

“Yes, that was a happy day for me, but Eldon was never 
satisfied about it — said we couldn’t afford it, and when he 
met with a few hundred dollars’ loss about two years after- 
ward nothing would do but that Louis must come home — 
just as he was about entering the junior class — and give it 
all up.” 

“ Dear, dear, that was too bad. ” 

“ Then he was kept hard at work on the farm in summer ; 
in the store in winter — was allowed no recreations, no 
money — was poorly clothed — was scolded perpetually, until 
— until — he wrote a kind, dear little letter of farewell to 
me and the children, and run away. In the army he must 
have acquired all his bad habits, but how he could have 
fallen so low — in so short a time — I cannot imagine. Per- 
haps, influenced by bad example, he took to drinking — for 
that is a vice that draws all others in its train. ” 

“We — we did notice something of this in his — in his 
breath,” said the widow, with hesitation. 

“ Ah ! ah ! that’s it then — so low, so low. Yet how even 
that should ever have made him dishonest, false, or mean, 

I cannot understand, ” 


176 


tiOXT HASTINGS. 


While they thus talked in the breakfast-room the door 
bell rang, and Ross and Binney, guarding the prisoner, 
entered the house. 

Mrs. Eldon turned very white when she knew that they 
had come, and needed additional restoratives and support 
for many minutes, after which she was assisted up stairs 
into the back parlor. 

“Won’t they let me see him alone?” she whispered. 

“Probably the officers won’t be willing to part company 
with him at present, ma’am,” said the major. “He might 
leap out of a window, you see. But you need not go in just 
yet ; wait here until we have seen him, and have prepared 
him for your appearance. ” 

“Yes, yes, that will be better.” 

Major Todd, with his daughter and granddaughter, 
went into the front parlor, where their recent guest was 
sitting, sullen and downcast, between the two policemen. 
He did not look up on their entrance, and Ross, who was 
the first speaker, said, after nodding to the ladies : 

“We’ve brought him around, you see, to make matters 
quite sure. Hold up your head now, ” he added, roughly, 
to the prisoner, knocking him under the chin with his open 
hand, “and let these people have a good look at you.” 

“There's no need of that,” said the major, “it’s the man ; 
it’s Louis Hartley.” 

“Yes,” added the widow, with a sigh. 

“Are you quite sure?” 

“Oh, yes, sir. He staid here last night — he took tea with 
us — he has been here several times before. ” 

“And you, young lady, what do you say?” 

“The same, sir. There can be no mistake in his identity. 
But I hope — I hope, gentlemen, you will be able to let him 
off, as we do not wish to appear against him. ” 

“Impossible, miss. We’ve no right to do that, and I 
don’t think he deserves pity either. He must be a very 
hardened offender. ” 

“Oh, no, sir ; we know his history. It’s his first offense, 
I’m sure, and if he were let off I’m certain he would never 
commit another crime. Would you, Mr. Hartley?” 

“In course not,” said the man, raising his eyes now for 
the first time to the fair intercessor. 

“How could you, Louis — how could you do such a thing?” 
asked the widow. 

“Don’t know, ma’am; really cannot make it out. I 
think I must have been a little out of my head . ” 

“You see we know his mother, who is one of the best of 


HOXY HASTINGS. 177 

women,” added Laura, evidently much to the prisoner’s 
surprise. 

“If nobody appears against him, miss, he’ll probably be 
discharged in a day or two, though they may send for you 
and compel you to come and testify. I couldn’t say ; at 
any rate, we’ve no right to let him go.” 

“We might shut up the house and go away for a few 
days, Laura. How would that do ?” i 

“That would be capital, ma’am,” said the prisoner, who 
had been listening with great eagerness. ‘ ‘ Oh, I did much 
more than that for you son, ma’am ; just think of that.” | 

While he spoke the folding doors slid a little way apart 
and a face so pale and ghost-like looked through, that the 
policemen seemed startled by the apparition. A thin white 
hand clung to each of the sliding doors, supporting the 
trembling figure which seemed framed between them, upon 
whose face and neck straggling locks of gray hair de- 
scended, dancing with the tremor which pervaded every 
hair of the agitated woman who had come so unexpectedly 
into view. 

Her eyes seemed strained to pierce the semi-darkness of 
the parlor, in the far end of which the officers and the 
felon sat, until accepting the quickly offered arm of Major 
Todd, she advanced toward them. 

“Where, where is he?” she asked, hurriedly, as she ap- 
proached the men. “ Where is my Lewy ?” 

“Here, Mrs. Eldon, here,” replied the widow, pointing 
to and almost touching the prisoner. 

“ Tha man ! Oh, thank God ! Thank God ! That is not 
my son.” 

Her voice barely held out for this utterance, when the 
delirium of joy overcame her, and she sank heavily to the 
floor. 


CHAPTER XXXIV. 

LAW OF KINDNESS. 

When Mrs. Eldon had recovered consciousness suffi- 
ciently to speak she reiterated to her astonished and de- 
lighted friends her assertion that the prisoner to whom all 
eyes now turned was not her son. 

“Oh, what a mountain it has removed from my poor 
heart !” she said ; “ Lewy, my boy, is still innocent and 
good.” 


178 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“I’m sure I’m as glad as you are,” the widow replied, 
wiping her eyes, “and I hope you’ll prove to be right, 

but—” n , 

“Why, mother— don’t you suppose Mrs. Eldon knows 
her own son?” 

“Yes, yes, of course; what did I say?* I’m really so 
confused by all this that I can’t make it out. Who is this 
man ? How did he know all about Louis and Alfred, and 
the escape, so as to pass himself off for my son’s friend 
and preserver ?” 

“ How is it, man ?” asked Boss, who had been informed of 
the main points in the story. “Make a clean breast of it 
now. It will be the better for you. ” 

“I got it from the nigger,” said the fellow, with a half 
laugh. 

“ From whom ?” 

“ The nigger — old Luke that helped him off. I heard 
him tell the story lots o’ times, and when he told me that 
him and the lef tenant was goin’ travelin’, I thought it 
would be a good time to try it on. ” 

“But how did you know that my son Charles was ab- 
sent ?” 

“I didn’t know anything about that. That was all ac- 
cident. I should ha’ come jest the same if he’d been to 
hum. ” 

On further questioning it appeared that the man was a 
discharged soldier (or deserter, as Ross guessed), and that 
he had not expected to get very much, but finding the 
grateful ladies easy victims, he had returned again and 
again, until the idea of robbing the house occurred to him, 
and was carried into effect, as has been seen. 

He tried to bargain for immunity from prosecution by 
offering to bring back the greater part of the money which 
he had obtained from the ladies, but this, of course, they 
could not agree to, and he was taken back to jail. It may 
as well be said of him now that he was subsequently tried, 
and proving to be an old offender, was sent to Sing Sing 
for ten years. 

Before the policemen left the house Major Todd, whose 
joy over the recovered box was immeasurable, compelled 
Binney to accept a substantial reward, and assured him 
that when Charley came home he might expect to have it 
increased. 

The gratitude which Mrs. Lee and Laura had so mis- 
takenly bestowed on the swindler and impostor they could 
now lavish without stint on dear Mrs, Eldon t \vhqm they 


BOXY HASTINGS. 179 

overwhelmed with kindness, and rendered completely 
happy. 

u We thought it so strange,” said the widow, “that Louis 
should be so illiterate, because, you know, Alfred would 
not be apt to become intimate with such a man. ” 

“ Of course not. ” 

“We were repeatedly shocked by his coarseness and his 
greed, but we overlooked it as far as we could.” 

In the evening, when Eldon came, his delighted wife 
made sure of seeing him softened into good nature by the 
tidings, but the amelioration of his temper, although de- 
cided, was not lasting. He was glad, of course, that his 
son was not a felon, but he said there was no betting how 
soon he would become one if he went on in his present 
course of disobedience. 

They had been frightened very unnecessarily, he said, 
and as to the impostor, it was something he couldn’t under- 
stand how anybody should be taken in by him. 

“ So we shall go home as wise as we came, I suppose,” he 
added. 

“ No — oh, no — they have had far later news of Lewy than 
ours. He was not much punished (he doesn’t say how 
much) for his part in the plot, and he was quite well when 
he wrote, which was several days after Mr. Lee’s ecsape. 

And now the widow and Laura beset the churlish old 
chap for leave to his little wife to stay, and make them a 
visit of a few weeks, which she had promised to do, if her 
husband’s permission could be obtained. 

“ What good would that do ?” he asked. “ She can stay two 
or three days, until my business is finished in the city.” 
That would save hotel expenses. That’s enough. She’ll 
be wanted at home, for there’s a great deal to do in the fall 
of the year. ” 

Mrs. Eldon sighed, as if she would have said that no one 
knew that better than she. Fall and spring, summer and 
winter. 

Mrs. Lee could do no less now than extend the invitation 
to him, which he readily accepted. 

On the second ensuing day Charley came home, and 
heard the story of what had taken place in his absence, 
with great interest, and greeted both the visitors with a 
welcome so hearty that old Eldon’s good opinion of himself 
was vastly increased, and he became sure that he was quite 
underrated at home. 

Charley did not censure nor even laugh at his mother 
and sister for their mistake, as they had dreaded ; nor did 


180 


ROXY BASTINGS. 


he tell them how much more wisely he would have acted if 
he had been at home. What he thought about it was 
another matter. Yet he saw that he had been more remiss 
than they in leaving so large an amount of property so 
poorly protected, and the lesson was not lost upon him. 

He was not slow in reading the character of Eldon, but 
his admiraton of and his gratitude to Louis, w'hom he had 
never seen, were such that he overlooked the father’s 
fault, and resolved to pave the way for a prompt recon- 
ciliation on the son’s return. 

The visit was protracted day after day, on the urgent 
solicitation of the Lees,,and the wudow, at Charles’ request, 
after forcing upon her astonished friend a variety of costly 
presents in the way of apparel, much of which the poor 
woman greatly needed, still taxed her ingenuity to think 
of something new to bestow. 

Eldon was not the man to hurry away under such cir- 
cumstances, and he began to treat his wife with a shade 
more of consideration. When she would protest against 
the acceptance of some new gift, the widow would say : 

“ Tut ! What is it compared to what Louis has done for 
us ?” and thus the selfish father was taught to entertain a 
higher opinion of his rebellious son. 

Before he went home Charles astonished the sordid man 
still more, for one evening, when he had relapsed into a 
grumbling mood, and made some allusion to what he had 
lost in the yield of his farm, in consequence of Louis de- 
serting him at a time when no other help could be had, 
young Lee said : 

“ How much — how much, now, do you honestly think 
that you lost by your son’s absence ?” 

“Well, nigh on to three hundred dollars one way and 
another, and that’s a great deal in my circumstances. The 
boy has never sent a dollar of his wages home.” 

“ Alf said they never received but two months’ pay be- 
fore they were taken prisoners, and after that they received 
none, of course. At any rate he could have had no reason 
to suppose that you were in want. ” 

“Of course not,” said Mrs. Eldon. 

“Oh, of course not,” replied the husband, sneeringly. 
“You’d take his part if he was to rob me of every cent I 
had in the world.” 

“Don’t talk of robbing, Eldon,” said Charley, good-na- 
turedly. “Perhaps there’s a side to the question that you 
have not properly considered, and if he has wronged you 
he may live to more than make it good. ” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 181 

“That’s what I tell‘him, Mr. Lee.” 

“ But I don’t want Louis to stand even under suspicion of 
being in your debt, while he is so largely our creditor. I 
want to buy all your claim against him, and all your right 
to utter one word of blame or censure against him, either 
to his face, or before others, including, of course, his 
mother and sisters. ” 

“ Charley laughed as he said this, and Eldon laughed, 
too, and looked a little ashamed. , 

“What’s the price?” continued Lee, taking out his 
pocket-book, for he knew his man too well to be afraid of 
his resenting the offer. 

“ Nonsense !” exclaimed Mrs. Eldon. “ Put up your money ; 
you don’t suppose Eldon would — ” 

“The price is what I named, ” interrupted the husband, 
without taking any notice of his wife. 

“And for three hundred dollars you will sell me the ex- 
clusive right to scold and grumble at Lewy for any wrong 
he has done you ?” 

“Yes.” 

Charles counted out the money, still smiling ; Mrs. Eldon 
blushed and protested ; the other ladies said it was a good 
joke, let it go on, and the shameless man received, 
counted, and pocketed the bills with most evident satisfac- 
tion. 

A little further urging after this induced him to leave his 
wife with her new friends when he went home, and when, 
a few weeks subsequently, she returned, bearing enforced 
gifts for the unknown Celia and Mary Ann, and Irene — 
gifts for Thomas and George and Harry, far exceeding, 
in the aggregate, the value of his own “spoils,” the sub- 
dued man began to comprehend that the law of kindness 
was superior to that of harshness and exacting severity. 


CHAPTER XXXV. 

“a bad penny always returns.” 

We must go back briefly to take a survey of what had 
befallen the Hastings family during the considerable 
period in which they have disappeared from our history. 
Charles’ advice to them had been carefully followed in 
one respect, for Roxana had been placed at school in one 
of the best seminaries of the city, but neither her mother 
nor Emily had relaxed their labors with the needle. 


182 


ROXY HASTINGS . 


Their little capital, although enough to dispel any fear 
of want for a year or more, could not be relied upon for 
permanent support, and while there was uncertainty as to 
any future additions to it, they did not dare to use it, ex- 
cept for the most necessary purposes. 

Then, with the progressing war, all the expenses of liv- 
ing increased rapidly, and in addition to this, the cormor- 
ant, Rooke, learning that they had money, brought in a 
bill for nearly two years 1 board of Roxana, and frightened 
them into the payment of it, under threat of a lawsuit 
which should double the amount in costs. 

So unaccountably indeed did their little fortune diminish 
that Mrs. Hastings began to look, with painful forebod- 
ings, to a day in the near future when it would be all 
gone, and when they would again be living “ from hand to 
mouth 11 with largely augmented expenses. 

“I fear we have been extravagant in dresses,” said the 
mother, whose conscience smote her whenever she took out 
her “Sunday best.” “I could have done without this.” 

“ I am sure you haven’t been extravagant, mother. Per- 
haps we girls have. But we were so run out of every- 
thing ; of course it cost us a great deal — and then he en- 
couraged us to use our money freely.” 

“I wdnder he has never written.” 

“ Perhaps he has been too busy — perhaps he has been un- 
fortunate We cannot tell.” 

“"We eannot depend on Mr. Lee,” the mother added. 
“ He has done a great deal already, and more than most 
men would have done under the same circumstances. ” 

“Of course he has ; I know that,” replied Emily, “but I 
wish he hadn’t promised so much. I don’t like this being 
taken up to be dashed down again. There’s poor Tom, out 
of business now, and looking perfectly disconsolate.” 

Tom was the undeclared lover of whom mention was 
made in a previous number, but who had since found cour- 
age to propose and had been accepted by Emily on condi- 
tions. She would never leave her mother, she said, in her 
present state of poverty, but if fortune should ever smile 
upon any of them, enough to justify such a step, she 
would consent to make her lover happy. 

Tom Selby w^as patient and hopeful in general, but the 
recent loss of his situation, owing to the sudden suspension 
of the house with which he was connected, was an unex- 
pected misfortune, and left him quite at his wits’ end. 

He was a sprightly, handsome fellow of twenty-four, or 
thereabouts, rather short and effeminate looking, except 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


183 


that he had very black eyebrows which seemed trying to 
be a substitute for the whiskers or mustache which he had 
never been able to raise. Tom’s eyes and hair, like his 
eyebrows, were of the color of the sloe, and as he usually 
dressed in black, he looked somber enough when dejected, 
which was not often. A pleasant word, or a smile, or a 
joke, always aroused him, and on such occasions the light 
that flashed from his eyes and teeth was quite dazzling. 

“ I’ve been offered a partnership in Gregg & Wilson’s 
if I could raise ten thousand dollars,” he said to Emily, 
“but they might as well ask for ten millions; my chance 
of getting it would be the same.” 

“ How came they to offer it to you ?” 

“ Don’t know. Their junior has retired in consequence 
of his father getting very rich by shoddy, and wanting to 
send him abroad.” 

“ Yes, but what reason had they to suppose you could 
raise such a sum ?” . . 

“ Oh, they knew that I had two rich relations, which, m 
my opinion, is just equal to having none. A single rich 
relative may assist you, but when there are two each of 
them thinks the other can do it as well as he, and so, while 
the world counts you lucky, you are as badly off as if all 
your kind were paupers.” 

“ It won’t do to depend on relations.” 

“ I know that ; I never did, but it’s aggravating to think 
that Uncle Joe could make our fortune here without losing 
or risking a dollar— for everybody knows that Gregg & 
Wilson are ‘A No. 1.’ ” 

“So I have always heard.” 

“And he’d get his interest and all, safe as from any. 
other investment.” 

“ Have you asked him ?” . , . , 

“ No. Mother hinted it, but he said everything he had 
was locked up in one operation and another, but there was 
Thomas. And Thomas said he had no confidence m mer- 
cantile business in these days, but there was Joe. 

“They’re selfish men — but all are not so. 

“Mostly of one pattern, I reckon. No, a young man 
must depend on his own muscle and his own brains, and 
then if he gets any help, well and good. I think I shall go 
to China. ” 

“To China, Tom.” , _ , 

“Yes. I’ve got a chance as supercargo on a ship ot Hart 
Brothers. I’ll at least get my living for the next year, and 
gave a few hundreds. I’m only an expense here. 


184 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


It was Emily’s turn to be sad now, and although she did 
not oppose her lover’s plan she wept over it in secret. A 
painful parting they had, too, when the time came, that 
last evening before the ship sailed, when each simulated a 
hope they did not feel, to keep up the other’s spirit. 

With throbbing temples and a fevered frame Emily kept 
her bed the next morning, unable to rise, and unwilling to 
listen to the feeble consolation of her mother and sister. 
And when, soon after her pretense of a breakfast, a visitor 
was announced, and that visitor proved to be Mr. Lee, she 
felt glad that she was ill enough to be excused from seeing 
him, for she was sure she could not speak to a stranger 
without crying. 

But the mother’s eyes were also red, and Roxana was 
looking very dismal when Charley caught his first glimpse 
of her, and although they both brightened with joy at the 
sight of their friend, he knew that something was amiss. 

He inquired for Emily, and was told that she was not 
well. 

“Not seriously ill, I hope?” he asked, earnestly. 

“No, sir; a headache only, and a little fever, I believe,” 
the mother replied. 

“But — is there nothing more? Pray, treat me as a 
friend, dear madam. You look as if you had yourself 
been crying.” 

“I have — for her, poor child. It’s nothing very serious, 
however. Separation from a dear friend — a lover, I may 
as well say — who sails for China to-day.” 

“Not serious. Well, I think that’s pretty serious. 
What does he go to China for ?” 

“ For want of something else to do. He was a clerk in 
the city ; his employers failed, or went out of business on 
account of the war, and Mr. Selby had to do something. 
This was the first thing that offered after several months 
of idleness.” 

“In what capacity does he go?” 

“ As supercargo, whatever that may be. He returns with 
the ship, but it will be a full year, and his earnings will be 
very small. And poor Emily thinks this risk is very great.” 

“When did he sail?” 

“He is to sail to-day at noon.” 

“ Oh, ho ! He’s not gone yet? Let’s see then if this can’t 
be remedied. What is the name of the ship, and who are 
the owners ?” 

“It’s the President, and it belongs to Hart Brothers,” 
replied the mother, with amazement. 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


185 


“Say nothing to Emily. Perhaps it’s too late, but I’ll go 
and see what (‘an be done.” 

Charley went to the shipping merchants and learned that 
the President was not yet off. 

‘ ‘ I have a friend who engaged as supercargo — ” 

“Oh, Mr. Selby. There he is talking with my partner 
now. He is just going aboard.” 

Selby turned on hearing his name mentioned, and looked 
at Lee, who was a little disconcerted, and bowing said to 
him : 

“ I ought not to have said ‘ a friend, ’ for you are quite a 
stranger to me ; but I wish to say a word to you apart, 
when you are quite at leisure. ” 

“I am at leisure now, I believe,” replied Tom, looking at 
his employer. 

“Certainly.” 

“The young men retired, and, after ten minutes’ conver- 
sation, returned, (Selby, with the traces of surprise and 
delight on every part of his expressive countenance), 
when Mr. Lee said : 

“ I want to cancel this young man’s engagement with 
you. I hope it will not cause you much inconvenience, 
and I will do anything to assist you in finding a substi- 
tute. ” 

“Oh, don’t trouble yourself about that. We have had 
three applicants for the place since it was offered to him. 
Though the pay is small there are so many anxious to es- 
cape the next draft — ” 

“Ah, yes, I see. You will let him off, then?” 

“Most certainly.” 

Charley walked off with his prize, and, as Tom said that 
none of his traps had gone aboard yet, the young men 
went directly to the house of Mrs. Hastings, where their 
appearance and their news raised a tumult of joy which 
could not easily be described. 

Emily was dressed and down stairs in a brief space of 
time, crying and laughing by turns, yet telling her lover 
that “a bad penny always returns,” and that she might 
have known he would come back. 

Charley, not the least happy of the company, parried all 
attempts to thank him, and said : 

“If anybody is to be thanked it’s little Roxy here. She 
did it. She did it that night when she wrote on a piece of 
paper, ‘ Do not sign, ’ and then handed it to me, and asked 
if I had dropped it. Ha, ha ! There was presence of mind 
for you in a little, trembling, frightened girl.” 


186 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


Eoxana blushed and laughed, and said she was sure she 
had been paid a hundred times over for that. ” 

“Not at all. You don’t understand business,” said the 
young man. “I must have a settlement with you yet, but 
at present here’s another job on hand. I told Tom Selby 
— excuse me, sir, but that’s what they all call you here.” 

“That’s my name. I like to hear it from you. It sounds 
frank and friendly.” 

Charles shook hands with his new friend, and contin- 
ued : 

“ I told Tom to stay at home, and I’d see that he was not 
a loser by it ; that’s all I’ve done so far. He took my word 
for it, and the next thing is how to make it good. Do 
you know of anything here, Selby, in your line of busi- 
ness ?” 

“Nothing,” replied the young man, with falling counte* 
nance. “If I had I shouldn’t have taken that place, you 
know. ” 

“Yes, I see.” 

“I heard of a very small clerkship yesterday, which 
hardly pays board — ” 

“ Ah, never mind that. Isn’t there something else ?” 

Tom shook his head. 

“Nothing that I can hear of, without capital.” 

“ But with capital, then. Do you know of anything ?” 

“Oh, yes, with a large sum — a very large sum — ten 
housand dollars — ” 

Charley smiled. 

“ I could get a first-rate partnership, but there's no use 
talking about that. ” 

“Perhaps there is. Tell me all about it.” 

Selby did. He told everything very minutely about the 
firm, and their offer to him. 

“Let’s go and see them,” said Lee, taking his hat, and 
Tom followed, bewildered with his new and dazzling pros- 
pect. 

In two hours Charley had gathered full information 
about the standing of Gregg & Wilson, and the business 
reputation of Selby, and had learned that the firm still held 
their offer good. 

“He shall have the money to put in within forty-eight 
hours,” said Lee, “and we’ll consider it sealed.” 

“All right. We’ll have the articles drawn then, so 
that the new firm will date from the beginning of next 
month, which is close at hand.” 

“I don’t understand it,” said Tom, again shaking hands 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


187 


with his new friend, as they went out. “It’s — it’s tremen- 
dous. It’s just as if I had found a gold mine opening 
right under my feet. ” 

“ What will your profits he ?” 

“Three thousand a year, at least, over and above the 
seven hundred interest that I shall have to pay you. ” 

“That you will pay to Roxy. I am going to hand your 
securities over to her. She will own your capital.” 

Selby opened his eyes wider and wider. He rubbed 
them to make sure that he was not asleep. 

“You will want to be married soon?” continued Charles. 

“Within a month, if I can have my way.” 

“So say I. Let’s go and look at some houses.” 

Tom was past wonder now, and he consented without 
comment. 

“You’d like to have Mrs. Hastings and Roxy live with 
you, I suppose?” 

“Above all things.” 

“You’ll want a good-sized house, then — but on reflec- 
tion, I’ll leave the selection of it to Roxy, who will own it.” 

“ Own it ?” 

“Yes, I shall buy it for her. You will be her tenant, 
rent free, for a few years, until you get well started in 
business, and as to the furniture — ” 

“Oh, I can get that,” said Tom, hastily. “Pray let me do 
something. My credit will be good for thousands the mo- 
ment our articles are signed.” 

Charles smiled, and replied : 

“I should like to gratify you, but if you are not particu- 
lar about this I should prefer to furnish the house, and 
give it, all complete, to Roxy. The fact is,” he continued, 
apologetically, “ I believe ladies think more of nice furni- 
ture than of lands and houses. It appeals more directly to 
their senses.” 

“True,” said Tom.” 

“And you’ll have the use of it all the same, you know, 
for the present, and as you’ll provide for the whole fam- 
ily— ” 

i “ Good. I am glad I can do something.” 

“ That will be a sort of offset for the use of the house and 
furniture, and your accounts will be near enough square 
for relations.” „ 

“It will leave me greatly in debt to Roxy,” said Tom ; 
“ but never mind. I see my way. ” . 

“ Yes ; if the obligation is too heavy, you can always di- 
minish it by presents, etc.” 


188 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“ Exactly. We sha’n’t quarrel, unless they are obstinate 
about having things made up for, you see. But I think 
the old lady will be reasonable. ” 

“You can go and explain all this to them, and I will 
come around to tea about six o’clock.” 

“Oh, I am so glad I am to tell them. Let’s see; I’m a 
partner, Roxy is to own my capital, and is to have a fur- 
nished house, which we are all to live in together. ” 

“Yes, a good house, worth at least as much as the sum I 
advance for you, and be particular to assure her that I do 
not give her those things as a present, but simply in pay- 
ment of a debt. ” 

“I shall obey you.” 

Selby found some difficulty in obtaining credence for his 
wonderful news, and when Charles came a few hours later 
the joyous excitement of his friends was still unabated. 

This feeling was not unmixed with a sense of humiliation 
on the part of Roxana, but this happiness of raising her 
mother and sister from a state of poverty and toil to com- 
parative wealth, outweighed all other considerations. Nor 
were Charley’s constant efforts to dispel her scruples with- 
out effect. 

“You have earned it, and I can afford it,” he said. “Pray 
allow me to be simply just, without oppressing you with a 
sense of obligation.” 

“I will try not to feel oppressed,” Roxy replied, with a 
sweet smile, “but I cannot view your benefaction in the 
way you represent it. Indeed I do not want to ; I prefer 
the privilege of being grateful. ” 

Charley thought her prettier than ever before ; her voice 
was more musical, her motions more graceful, but it had 
never occurred to him to fall in love with this gentle girl, 
and he supposed (sage youth !) that she had been equally 
discreet. What was there, indeed, in him, he asked him- 
self, to excite the love of a sweet, sensitive, and intelli- 
gent girl ? If it had been Alf who had thus been thrown 
in her way his lively, witty, intelligent brother, she could 
not have failed to admire, perhaps to love him. 

Then the thought flashed upon him that here might 
possibly be a remedy for his poor brother’s misery. If he 
could be thrown, accidentally as it were, into companion- 
ship with Roxana, perhaps they might become interested 
in each other, and the torn tendrils of his heart might close 
around this new object of affection. 

Visions of his loved brother, restored to his former vi- 
vacity, to that exuberance of spirit which once made him a 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


189 


delight to all who came near him, dawned upon Charley’s 
mind, and he resolved that he would, if possible, try this 
delicate experiment. 

Alf would be at home in a month or so, perhaps tired of 
travel, and more than likely disposed to postpone his for- 
eign tour until spring. At all events, he would spend some 
weeks at home, and it would be easy to have Roxy there 
on a visit to Laura, during that interval. 

She was so witching and winning in her ways ; she 
was such a little pink of neatness and purity, that Charles 
was sure his brother must be pleased with her — and being 
once pleased, what might not follow ? The shadow of that 
old grief might gradually pass from his heart, and be fol- 
lowed by the sunlight of a new, fresh love. 

So, when Charley’s business was finished, that is, when 
he had drawn upon Ogilvie for the money he wanted, and 
had paid in Tom’s capital, and had handed over the securi- 
ties (Selby’s notes), and the purchase money for the house 
and furniture to Mrs. Hastings, making them all feel as if 
they were a branch of the House of Rothschilds — after all 
this, he broached the subject of a visit from Roxana to his 
sister Laura. 

Roxy blushed at the proposal, and then blushed still 
deeper to think that she had done so, but Charley did not 
stop to wonder ; he only thought how it heightened her 
beauty, and wished that Alf could see her now. 

“ I shall bring Laura with me the next time I come, ” he 
said, “ and I want you to promise that you will return with 
us then to New York.” 

Roxy looked at her mother, who answered for her, smil- 
ing : 

“She is much obliged to you, and she’ll be very happy 
to go. ” 

“ How do you know, mother ?” 

“Why, you just told me. Don't you think I can read 
that transparent face of yours with your whole soul shin- 
ing right through it ?” 

Roxy blushed deeper now, and said to Mr. Lee : 

“It is not necessary for me to say anything, then.” 

“ Not a word ; only be ready when we come two or three 
weeks hence. I will write you a day or two before, and 
Laura, I am sure, will be delighted. Have you ever been 
in New York?” 

“ Never.” 

“ Oh, that is fortunate ; we shall have so much to show 
you. Laura will go with you everywhere, and Alf, too, I 


190 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


hope, when he comes home. As for myself, I am quite a 
man of business. ” 

“ Who is Alf ?” Mrs. Hastings asked. 

And now, for the first time, Charles told them about his 
military brother, and his extraordinary adventures, 
awakening the deepest interest, but he hinted nothing of 
that broken heart for which he was thus covertly seeking 
a balm. 

His stay in Philadelphia having been prolonged beyond 
his expectations, he abandoned his contemplated visit to 
the oil region, and returned to New York, where, as has 
been seen, he met the Eldons, and heard, with no little ex- 
citement, of the startling events which had occurred during 
his absence. 


CHAPTER XXXYI. 

“how we shall miss her.” 

Mrs. Lee entered heartily into Charles’ plan when it was 
confided to her, and when she had been told not only of all 
Roxana’s charms, but that she was possessed of quite a 
nice little property. 

“ I wonder that you have not thought of her for yourself, 
if she is all that you say, ” said the mother. ” 

Charley blushed, and replied : 

“Well, I’ve been wondering at it myself, but the truth 
is, I thought of Alf first, and — and then she’d be sure to 
like him, you know. There’s time enough for me.” 

The widow gazed at the fine, frank face of her son a mo- 
ment, and wondered whether she had not underrated his 
noble, generous nature, and whether she had been guilty 
of favoritism toward her eldest born. 

When the time for Roxy’s visit drew near Charles be- 
came a little graver than usual, and was often caught in 
strange reveries, which he came out of with a start when 
spoken to. But what was that in a man of his extensive 
business? He went off cheerily enough to Philadelphia, he 
and Laura, having announced themselves by letter the 
preceding day ; and his delight grew into something quite 
ecstatic when he found that his sister highly approved of 
his pet, and that the two were on the best and most cordial 
terms from the moment of meeting. 

“Isn’t she sweet?” he asked. 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


191 


“A perfect rosebud. She looks as if she were good to 
eat.” 

And Charley looked as if he could eat her. 

“Don’t you think,” he continued, for he had not before 
confided his plot to his sister, and this was, of course, a 
private conversation, “don’t you think, now, that— that 
Alf might fancy her, and forget— forget the past?” 

Laura met her brother’s inquiring gaze with a pleased 
yet wondering look. 

“After a while, I mean, of course,” he added. 

“Why, yes, after a while. I should think it — possible.” 

“And we can’t bring them together too soon, and get 
them interested in each other. Don’t you see?” 

Laura saw it, of course. She would second it with all 
her heart, but she had a woman’s quick perception, and she 
thought she saw an obstacle in the way already, though, 
of course, she did not point it out.” 

Of their visit in Philadelphia we need not particularly 
speak. They stopped at a hotel, for the house had not yet 
been bought, and Mrs. Hastings still occupied her rooms, 
which, however, had been made quite stylish with some 
new furniture. The widow, and Emily, and Tom vied with 
each other in attention to their guests, the latter insisting 
on taking Charles around to the store to see his partners, 
but with more especial reference, it was supposed, to his 
seeing the new sign of Gregg, Wilson & Selby, in the largest 
of gilt letters. 

On their way back to New York, with their pet between 
them, Charles and Laura spoke not infrequently of their 
absent brother, and always with some endearing phrase, 
or some compassionate allusion to the sufferings he had 
gone through in Richmond. 

When they reached home, and Roxy had become estab- 
lished on intimate terms with the family, the theme oc- 
curred still more frequently. Now there was a letter from 
“ dear Alfred, ” and now he was to be written to. This was 
Alfred’s favorite booic, and that was his pet spaniel. Here 
was the disguise in which he escaped, all arranged upon a 
lay figure, and there was the very black ball that he drew 
in the lottery of death. 

Roxy could not hear all this without taking an interest 
in the young lieutenant, nor without some curiosity to see 
him, which she expressed very naturallv, and Charley 
rubbed his hands and nodded his head to Laura o? hw 
mother with a significance which they well understood 


192 BOXY HASTINGS. 

“She’ll be all right,” he would say; “only let her see 
him. ” 

Yet, Charles was not happy. He was very busy, for he 
had the affairs of half a dozen reduced families on his 
hands, old friends of his father or his own, whom, un- 
known to them, he was indirectly aiding. Then he was 
planning, with an architect, a great house, which he was 
going to build near the Central Park, and with a landscape 
gardener, the extensive grounds which were to surround 
it. When he came out from the clouds under which he 
still walked, he scarcely knew why. 

He was busy, but he was not quite happy, and the shad- 
ows which would fall at times upon his face were always 
reflected in that of the watchful Roxana. He left nothing 
undone which could contribute to the enjoyment of his 
friends except heartily participating in it, and this excep- 
tion dashed every cup from Roxy’s lips. He was absent- 
minded and restrained at times, and at times there was an 
unnatural hilarity in his manner which excited the wonder 
of his mother and sister. 

Alfred came rather sooner than was expected — tired of 
travel — feeble, and having quite abandoned the idea of a 
winter sojourn in Europe. He had heard from Louis Hart- 
ley, who was expecting to be exchanged soon, and this 
news, together with his joy at reaching home, had elated 
him so much as to excite the most sanguine hopes of his 
friends — but he soon relapsed into his former state of 
gloom, and his fondness for entire seclusion. 

Sometimes he would pass whole days in his room, occu- 
pied on his translations of Horace, and when he gave some 
enforced attention to the occupations and amusements of 
the family, it was so evidently “ a weariness” to him, they 
could not cheat themselves into the illusion that his pre- 
tended enjoyment was real. 

Roxy, who soon saw that she was looked to for assist- 
ance in ministering to this “mind diseased,” exerted her 
powers to please the invalid when they were together, 
which was not often. His deportment toward her was 
touchingly gentle and amiable, but he always seemed to be 
looking through and beyond her to the lost darling, for 
whose sake his heart had become a well of tenderness 
toward all her sex. 

How anxiously his mother watched him, while trying to 
seem unsolicitous ; how many devices she used to bring 
him and her little fairy guest together in the same occupa- 
tion, or the same pastime ; how gleefully she reported to 


ROXY HASTINGS. 193 

Charles everything that looked like progress in their deep 
strategy, which was yet so transparent to both its intended 
victims, and which they saw through every hour of every 
day— all this need not be told. 

Charles continued very busy ; it was astonishing how 
many invisible irons he had in the fire, for no one seemed 
to know what he was about— but he almost shunned Rox- 
ana, and certainly never met her alone. 

* In the morning, before he went to his “office,” which 
Laura said she believed was underground, he was always 
at the service of his friends. Would they ride? He 
would send horses. Would they drive? He would order 
a carriage. Would they go to the new opera? He would 
secure seats. 

Then such loads of new books and pictures — of rare 
fruits and flowers, as he sent home ; such tasteful presents 
as he brought almost daily to some one of the little circle, 
until his mother told him that he must certainly stop, or 
take a larger house, for there was no room for anything 
more. There were unhung pictures behind every door ; 
the library was plethoric with crowded and uncomfort- 
able looking books, and in the stifling closets the luckless 
explorers floundered amid a sea of silks and alpacas, of 
calico and crinoline which hung six deep from all the 
groaning hooks. 

Alfred walked out daily, and occasionally rode with 
Laura and ^xy, for he was a capital horseman, and the 
ladies both professed a desire to learn the art of riding 
well. Once when Charles had ordered horses, and Laura 
could not go, Alfred and Roxy went alone, to the great joy 
of the widow, who had arranged this little plot, too. 

They were gone very long, and when they returned very 
fresh and rosy Alfred’s spirits seemed so decidedly im- 
proved that none could fail to mark the change. Roxy 
also was more light hearted than she had been for many a 
day, and from that time forward there seemed to be a 
change in the relation of these two young people to each 
other. 

There was no longer restraint or reserve between them — 
they always met with the utmost cordiality, and there 
were times when Roxy, who was a most sensible and intel- 
ligent girl, was able to charm the evil spirit of gloom from 
the breast of her friend more effectually than either his 
mother or sister could do. 

Yet, strange to say, while rendering these good offices to 


194 


HOXY HASTINGS. 


another, some of the bloom faded from her own cheeks, 
and she began to pine for home. 

“Do you tire of us so soon?” asked Charles, when she 
spoke of returning. 

Their eyes met. What is it that he reads or rather that 
he does not read, in those calm blue orbs, which quail be- 
fore his earnest gaze, and find refuge behind their drooping 
lashes ? 

No — they had been only too kind to her, she said, but she 
did not think that she was quite well, and she was sure' 
that her friends were impatient for her return, although 
they would hint nothing that would abridge her happi- 
ness. 

Charles urged a prolongation of her visit, and promised 
to go himself to Philadelphia, and make all necessary ar- 
rangements for it. But Roxy was resolute. 

“After the wedding,” she said, “which we shall expect 
you all to attend — ” 

“Oh, of course we shall do that.” 

“If — if Laura should really want me — and if mother and 
Emily can spare me — perhaps — ” 

“Two ‘if s’ and a ‘ perhaps, ’ Roxy, are too much,” said 
Charles, laughing ; “ after the wedding you will come back 
with us — say that, and we’ll let you go.” 

Roxy nodded and smiled, and the bargain was con- 
sidered concluded. 

She had said nothing of the fact that her mother and 
Emily would decide neither upon house nor furniture with- 
out her, for these were reasons which scarcely influenced 
her. The wedding had been postponed for other causes 
until early in the spring, and there was ample time for all 
the business preparations which were to precede it. 

She went home a few days afterward in company with 
an acquaintance of Charles’, who was traveling south- 
ward, haying first agreed upon a correspondence with 
Laura, who already loved her as a sister. 

“How we shall miss her !” she said, when they returned 
from the railroad depot, whither all but the widow had ac- 
companied her. “ I shall count the days until she comes 
back. ” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


195 


CHAPTER XXXVII. 

“not equal to the task.” 

Winter had passed away, and spring with its birds and 
blossoms began to appear. Let us see what were the changes 
which this short lapse of time had wrought. 

Bachelor Burr had married the “charming widow” who 
had so effectually consoled him in his distress, and with 
his buxom bride and her four children, had taken posses- 
sion of the grand house which had so much embarrassed 
him, but of which he was henceforth to call himself mas- 
ter “nevermore.” 

Holden, who had “gone down” in December, with a 
crash which shook the commercial world, struggled on 
until late in the winter in the futile attempt to save some- 
thing out of the wreck of his fortune. But his creditors, 
who were indignant and unrelenting, said that he ought 
to have failed five years before, all of which time he had 
been insolvent, instead of living extravagantly at their 
expense. His assets, aside from some hundreds of thou- 
sands of bad Southern debts, consisted of his stock of 
goods only, and his house and furniture, all of which 
would not pay quite one-fifth of his indebtedness. 

It all went, save a few hundreds legally exempt, for al- 
though he made a late effort to save his house by an an- 
tedated deed to his wife, a remorseless attorney pounced 
upon it and compelled its relinquishment, even -on the tes- 
timony of the poor woman herself. 

Holden, whose pride had been so extreme, was thor- 
oughly humbled. He took a small house ; he obtained 
some small collecting agency; he shunned his late ac- 
quaintances, and began to recognize some of older date, 
who had preceded him by a few years into the valley of 
humiliation. 

It may be thought that the penalties of poverty fell still 
heavier upon his family, but Mrs. Holden’s happiness had 
been crushed by a severer blow, to which the loss of 
wealth could add but little. 

“If I could have Lucy back,” she would say, “I should 
have nothing to regret. Nay, I would bless the hand 
which had shattered our fortune if, in exchange for it, we 
could receive our dear murdered child. ” 


196 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


But Miss Blythe was not all this time without tidings 
from her friend. They had agreed to correspond, but it 
was not until spring that Lucy’s first letter was received, 
of which it is necessary to give some extracts. 

“ My conscience sometimes smites me, ” it said, “ when I 
think of the anxiety which I may have caused my mother. 
But what could I do ? She lent her influence to the tyranny 
which was driving me to madness, and which, as I look 
back upon it now, I am sure would have made me a sui- 
cide. Poor mamma ! She had grown worldly with pros- 
perity. There was a time — but why should I speak of it ? 
If I could believe that she loves me as she once did — as I 
love her even now, I would still brave all, and throw my- 
self at her feet. Doubtless she looks forward to seeing 
me return when I have tried my rash experiment out, and 
engrossed as she is with other concerns, and especially 
with seeing my sisters ‘ well settled, ’ she does not greatly 
grieve. Thus I console myself. ” 

******** 

“ My own peculiar grief, I sometimes think, will be ever 
fresh. Perhaps time will assuage it. If the bitter waters 
should ever abate I shall tell you, dear Mary, the whole sad 
story, but I am not yet equal to the task. ” 

This part of the letter was written as if with a tremb- 
ling pen, and seemed to have been blurred by falling 
tears. 

“My home has proved a pleasant one in many respects. 
My duties are light, and are not interfered with, and my 
pupils are really docile and amiable. To one of them I 
have become much attached, and, oh, what a blessing it 
is, dear Mary, to have one to love. 

“ There are drawbacks to all this. Mr. Edward Allard 
fancies himself in love with me, and has quite persecuted 
me with his attentions, while his mother watches us both 
with an anxiety which is plainly visible. He is rather a 
coxcomb, yet not quite conceited enough for that. You 
doubtless remember him — the taller of the two you saw on 
shipboard, weak-eyed, slim-waisted, sandy-haired, with a 
little ghost of a mustache. He has quite a woman’s voice, 
and writes a little feminine hand. 

“How do I know,” you ask. “Well, to tell the truth, he 
has written me two or three notes on indifferent subjects, 
which he always begins with ‘ Dear Lucy, ’ and signs ‘ Thine, 
E. A. , ’ and to which I have never replied, except verbally. 

“He sings ‘Believe me, if all those endearing young 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


197 


charms, 1 and looks so pointedly at me while doing so, 
that it is really embarrassing, ludicrous as it is. 

“March 10th. It is a fortnight since I laid this letter 
aside, and Edward’s courtship has culminated into a pro- 
posal. Let me tell you how. A week ago Mrs. Allard 
came to my school-room in great excitement, and having 
sent the children out, she said that she had come to tell me 
that my conduct did not give satisfaction. 

“ I asked her in what respect. 

“‘Why, in respect to my son, miss’, she said. ‘I told 
Miss Blythe that I couldn’t have nothing of this kind, you 
know. You see, Allard’s rich, and my sons have a right to 
look pretty high — and — ’ 

“ I interrupted her by asking her what impropriety she 
accused me of. 

“‘I don’t know ; I can’t say chat I have seen much my- 
self, but a mother’s eye can’t be everywhere. I only know 
that Edward is bewitched after you, and such things don’t 
happen unless there’s some encouragement given.’ 

“ I controlled my temper ; assured her I had never en- 
couraged her son’s attentions, but that on the contrary 
they were an annoyance to me. And I asked her what she 
required of me. 

“ ‘To keep out of his way as much as possible.’ 

“ I always do. 

“ ‘Never to see him alone — ’ 

“I never have, except by the merest accident, and for a 
single minute. 

“ ‘ And — and to refuse him point-blank if he offers him- 


self.’ 

“ That I shall most certainly do. 

“ ‘ I hope you will, miss, since you promise it, ’ she con- 
tinued, ‘but I know Edward has very fascinatin’ ways, 
and the New York girls were quite crazy after him. ’ 

“ I told her I thought I should be able to resist his fas- 
cinations. _ . J . . rc 

“ She did not look altogether pleased, but she went off, 
saying that she should tell him his attentions were dis- 
agreeable to me, and she looked very hard at me when she 

said this. . 

“ Certainly, tell him so, I replied. 

“ During the next three days I saw nothing ot my ad- 
mirer, who was not even at table, and I concluded he liau 
been sent away ; but I asked no questions. Mrs. Allard 
was glum, her husband looked quizzical, and my little 
pupils began to regard me with a sort of awe, as it they 


198 BOXY HASTINGS. 

understood that I was somehow the apple of discord in the 
family. 

“ On the fourth day the mother came to me with a beam- 
ing face, which seemed to say that she had found a solu- 
tion for the knotty question. 

“ ‘Ed won’t give up,’ she said, ‘he’s very obstinate, and 
me and Allard has talked it over, and Allard says — says 
he— why not? She’s a nice, sweet girl; why not let the 
boy have his way ? We’re rich enough for both. So you 
see, after a good deal of argumentating, we’ve come to the 
conclusion to give our consent, and Ed, he’s awaitin’ in 
the next room, for to be called in, and he’s just the hap- 
piest feller you ever did see. ’ 

“I was really sorry to dash the simple fellow’s joy, but 
I believe I took some pleasure in causing a collapse of the 
simple woman’s conceit. 

“ ‘ Did not you tell your son, ’ I said, 1 that his attentions 
were disagreeable to me ?’ 

‘“Oh, law, yes,’ she replied, looking a little startled, ‘but 
that was — was because we disapproved ’em, I s’pose. 

Now the case is altered. ’ 

“ But my sentiments are not altered. I am much obliged 
to you and Mr. Allard, and also to your son for his good 
opinion of me. But I can never accept him as a lover, or 
a — a husband. 

“Mrs. A.’s frowzy face underwent all manner of changes 
during this speech. But she forced a smile, and said : 

“ ‘Oh, you can’t be in earnest — or — or you’ll change your 
mind. Ed’ard is sich a nice feller, and he likes you so — and 
he’ll have sich a fortin !’ 

“ I assured her that my mind could never change on this 
subject, and then she was foolish enough to get quite angry. 

“ ‘ I should like to know who you consider yourself, then, ’ 
she said, with many short nods of the head, ‘if our Ed’ard 
isn’t good enough for you. You must be lookin’ very 
high. Perhaps you expect to git the Prince of Wales, or 
his brother. It would be like sich upstarts. ’ 

“ ‘ Suppose that I do not wish to marry at all. Is it not 
my privilege to remain single?’ I asked, for I really was 
not angry. 

“ ‘Oh, yes, it’s your privilege to wheedle young boys into 
likin’ you, and goin’ mad after you, and then jiltin’ ’em — 
that’s your privilege.’ 

“So saying, she bounced out of the room without wait- 
ing for a further reply, and I could scarcely restrain my 
laughter until her blazing face had disappeared. 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


199 


“ She has cooled down since and apologized, and we are 
quite good friends again. The casus belli has been sent on 
‘his travels, 1 but he left a note for me in which, among 
many other foolish things, he says he shall try to render 
himself worthy of me, and that he will consent to live on 
in the faint hope of yet winning my heart and hand. I 
gave the note to his mother. 

“March 15th. I have just received your second letter, 
which has shocked me very much. I am sorry that you 
hesitated so long to send me this information. They be- 
lieve me dead — they have raised a monument to me — and 
this must have been done four or five months ago. 

“ Pray, let my mother be undeceived. Hasten to her (she 
does not know you) , or write her an anonymous note, or in 
some way let her know that I am alive and well. Do not 
be abrupt with her, but you will know how to manage it. 
I trust everything to your judgment. Poor mamma ! Poor 
mamma !” 


CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

“amiable weakness.” 

Charley Lee had a fondness for springing agreeable sur- 
prises upon his friends, and it was this “ amiable weakness” 
perhaps which chiefly influenced him in concealing his 
great wealth. He brought sudden joy to many hearts by his 
munificent and well-timed benefactions, which were be- 
stowed sometimes covertly, sometimes openly, but always 
with a most delicate regard to the sensibility of the re- 
cipients. 

Without abandoning his plan for a grand house and 
beautiful grounds near the Central Park, he resolved not 
to await the distant completion of this scheme, before 
changing his residence and taking an upward step in the 
social scale. 

Very soon after Miss Hastings had returned to Phila- 
delphia he had purchsaed a new four-story “ stone-front” in 
a fashionable street, not far from their old home, which 
he proceeded to furnish in that costly and elegant style 
which only modern art has rendered possible even to 
great wealth. 

Not until it was ready for occupation, in December, did 
he permit his family to know what he had done, and he 
had abundant reason to be satisfied with their delight 


200 ROXY HASTINGS. 

and amazement when they were taken to view their fu- 
ture home. 

“We shall not be quite so cramped here,” he remarked, 
as he pointed out to his friends the separate rooms ap- 
pointed for their use, each selected and furnished with di- 
rect reference to the age and tastes and habits of its 
future occupant. 

Yet it was not without some reluctance that they aban- 
doned their late quiet home to enter upon one which in- 
volved the necessity of a return to society — that society 
from which they had been so long secluded. 

Their old friends rapidly found them out in “ upper- ten- 
dom,” and not a few of them were real friends, too, who 
would not have shunned them in their poverty, if they 
had known where to find them, or if they had believed 
their visits would be acceptable. 

Mrs. Lee retained no ill will. Her conduct, and that of 
Laura, proclaimed such a general amnesty to recreant 
friends that they flocked back in troops, and even Mr. 
Perth had the assurance to renew his acquaintance by a 
New Year’s call. Mistaking politeness for partiality, the 
conceited man followed this visit up with others, until it 
became quite apparent that he was seeking to re-establish 
himself on his former footing in the family. 

“ He would get quite a different ‘ footing’ if he got his 
deserts,” said the old major to his daughter, when the con- 
duct of the perfidious beau was discussed, “ but if Laura 
likes him still I suppose it’s all right.” 

Some extravagant stories had got into circulation as to 
the wealth of the Lee family, and its origin, but nothing 
which in any respect approached the truth. The most cur- 
rent of these rumors was that the late Mr. Lee had a large 
interest in a gold mine which had only recently proved 
productive, and that his widow and three children were 
each and all immensely rich. 

If Isaac Perth had not possessed the most unbounded 
confidence in his own charms he would not probably have 
dared to renew his attentions to Miss Lee under such cir- 
cumstances. But his vanity was inordinate, and had been 
fostered by much flattery, for, as has been said, he was a 
man of some fashion, and of good family, paid great atten- 
tion to dress, and was in short a bit of a coxcomb. 

As Laura was beginning to receive considerable atten- 
tion, Isaac hastened to place himself “ right on the record,” 
and he was gratified to find how readily the young lady 
afforded him an opportunity to declare himself. 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


201 


“It is really quite delightful,” he said, “to see you all 
back in this part of the city again. We have missed you 
— oh, prodigiously.” 

“Ah !” 

“Yes — Sister Elvina and I especially.” 

“We have not been very far.” 

“ No ? We heard that you had gone — or — or were going 
out of town. I — I tried to look you up several times, but 
did not quite succeed in finding you.” 

“I am sorry you had so much trouble.” 

“ Oh, no trouble. Quite a pleasure, I assure you. ” 

“ Charles spoke of meeting you quite often. ” 

Isaac colored a little and said that he believed he had 
met him a few times in business hours. 

“A terrible driving time we’ve had at the store, Miss 
Lee,” he continued. “You can’t imagine how busy we 
have been. It quite drives everything out of one’s head.” 

“I should suppose so,” Laura said, quietly, but as there 
was nothing in her voice or manner to give any emphasis 
to these words, Mr. Perth accepted them as an assent to 
his remark. 

“It seems quite like old times again, now, doesn’t it?” 
the beau continued, venturing to take a seat a little nearer 
to his charmer. 

“I find many changes,” Laura replied. 

“You will find no change in me, Miss Lee,” said the 
smirking lover. “ I am happy to assure you that my re- 
gard for you is unalterable, and — and that I am here to- 
night to offer you my hand and heart.” 

But Isaac looked in vain for the signs of ecstatic joy with 
which he had fully expected this declaration to be received. 
He attempted to take Laura’s hand, but it was quickly 
withdrawn, and she replied, calmly : 

“ I have thought it right to give you this opportunity to 
declare your sentiments, which in everything but words 
you have long ago expressed — ” 

“ Yes — yes.” 

“ There was a time when I should have listened favor- 
ably to such a declaration — ” 

“Was a time ! Good heavens ! You don’t mean to say, 
Miss Lee — ” 

“ I mean to say that it is too late, Mr. Perth. We can 
henceforth be nothing more than friends to each other, 
and I fear scarcely that. ” 

“Why, Miss Lee ! You cannot mean it, or — or you will 
surely think better of it.” 


202 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“My decision is quite unalterable, I assure you,” said 
Laura, rising and seeking to end the interview, but still 
the mortified man lingered. 

“ I never was so astonished in my life, ” he said, with a 
vacant, foolish look ; “ and— and— but you must allow me 
to see you again on this subject, or to write you a note. 
There is some misunderstanding, I am sure. ” 

“ I shall not see you again, ” replied Laura, now a little 
angry, “ and if you write me a note I shall return it un- 
opened. ” 

“ Bless me ! Bless me ! This is terrible !” replied Isaac, 
who was so utterly crest-fallen now that one would have 
thought no grain of conceit could ever be got into his sys- 
tem again. “Well, good-night, then.” 

They shook hands ; he attempted vainly to kiss the little 
fingers which rested for a moment in his, and then with- 
drew, with no attempt to hide his utter confusion. 

But the poor fellow had yet another humiliation to endure 
at home, for his sister Elvira well knew the errand on 
which he had set out, and to which, indeed, she had insti- 
gated him by the most confident assurances of success. 

Elvira was older than her brother and taller, and more 
distinguished looking — and like him, she had a very high 
idea of her family, which needed nothing but wealth to 
render its respectability quite perfect. 

Her father was a lawyer who had always lived up to his 
professional income, which had so greatly diminished of 
late as to make a money alliance highly desirable. 

Isaac came home so much earlier than he was expected 
that his sister, who was awaiting him, believed at first 
that he had changed his mind and had not been to see 
Laura. But this she could not hope when she caught sight 
of his face, which, despite a feeble smile, was so woe-be- 
gone and so sheepish in its expression that words were 
scarcely needed to confirm what it told her. 

“Well, Isaac,” she said, fearfully, “did you — did you see 
Laura ?” 

“ Yes — yes,” said the brother, turning his face away from 
her scrutiny; “I wish I hadn’t.” 

“ Why, you don’t mean to say — ” 

“What did you put me up to it for?” he asked, angrily. 
“We might have known, after all that has passed, that if 
she had any spirit she wouldn’t— wouldn’t accept me.” 

“Why, Isaac,” said the sister, looking quite aghast, 
“has she really refused you out and out?” 

Yes 1” said the young man, fiercely. “Do you want to 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


203 


make me tell it over and over ? If you had let me alone I 
shouldn’t have done it ; you said that she’d jump at the 
chance of getting me. ” 

“I thought so because I knew your worth, Isaac, and I 
thought she was amiable, and — ” 

“ You thought she was a fool.” 

“Yes, so I did,” answered Elvira, laughing. 

“Well, she ain’t, so let that be the end of it. I never 
want to hear her name again.” 

“ Tut, tut ; just as like as not she’ll change her mind yet.” 

“No, she won’t. You wouldn’t think so if you had seen 
her to-night. She looked like a judge sentencing a 
prisoner, and I felt as if I had been committing petit lar- 
ceny. You might have knocked me down with a feather. 
I’ll never offer myself to another woman if I should live to 
be as old as Methuselah. ” 

Isaac “took it hard.” 


CHAPTER XXXIX. 

“as one risen from the dead.” 

Alfred Lee’s grief had seemed so much modified during 
the latter part of Miss Hastings’ visit, and for several 
weeks after her departure, that his friends really believed 
he had formed an attachment for her which would be 
avowed when the fitting time had elapsed which was re- 
quired by a due respect for the memory of Lucy. 

He always asked to see Roxana’s letters, and once, at 
Laura’s request, he had put a postscript in one of her re- 
plies, in which, to his mother’s great delight, he told her 
that he looked forward with pleasure to her promised visit 
in the spring. 

But before spring came Alfred was as dejected as ever, 
and though he tried hard to keep up a show of spirits, it 
was too evident that both his bodily and mental health 
were failing. 

“He will be better again when Roxy comes,” his mother 
would say; “she amuses him at least, and by and by it 
will turn out as we wish. It is impossible that it should 
be otherwise.” 

Charles thought so, too, though he did not look very 
happy over it. 

“He can’t help it,” he said, thoughtfully. “Nobody 
could. She’ s such a love. ” 


204 BOXY HASTINGS. 

Laura looked hard at him, but he did not observe it, and 
he added : 

“Of course he could not propose when she was here. It 
was too soon. ” 

“But I shall always think they had some understanding 
on the morning of that ride on horseback, ” said the mother. 
“Nobody will ever convince me that they did not. They 
were so changed in their conduct to each other immedi- 
ately afterward. They were just like brother and sister.” 

The time for Emily Hastings’ wedding came at last, but 
greatly to Mrs. Lee’s disappointment nothing could induce 
her older son to attend it. Charles and Laura went, and in 
due time returned, bringing with them their young friend, 
from whom so much was expected in the way of restoring 
peace and happiness to poor Alfred. 

Roxy was as pretty as ever, and quite as winning in her 
ways. Indeed she was in some respects more captivating 
than before, and that, seemingly, without effort, if not 
without consciousness of her powers. Nor could there be 
any mistaknig her favorable influence upon Alfred, whose 
spirits improved from the hour of her return, yet who 
never seemed to seek an opportunity of being alone with 
her. 

“It would not quite do yet.” the widow said, who 
watched them closely, and reported, with intentional ex- 
aggerations, to Charles every sign that favored her theory. 

But it was wonderful how Charley’s business increased. 
He was almost never at home, excepting at meals, and he 
even began to find occupation in his room for hours to- 
gether when the weather confined him to the house. Society 
seemed almost as distasteful to him as to Alfred, yet the 
new position in which he had placed himself compelled 
him to pay some attention to its claims. 

As Alf would not he was obliged occasionally to attend 
Laura and Roxy to large evening parties, and of course he 
could not absent himself from those which his mother 
gave in return. 

Roxy was quite a belle on these occasions, and she 
seemed quite happy, which Charles thought a little 
strange, as his brother was never present. That they 
were impliedly engaged he never doubted now, for his 
mother would not see things in any other light. 

They began to ride out again together when the weather 
permitted, sometimes with Laura and sometimes without, 
and of course the widow contrived to find other engage 
ments for her daughter as often as possible. 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


205 


But we must return to the time when Mary Blythe re- 
ceived Miss Holden’s letter, and from that point take up 
another thread of our narrative. 

Miss Blythe did not hesitate about complying with her 
friend’s request, but in what way she should set about the 
delicate task of undeceiving the afflicted mother, and yet 
keep secret the place of Lucy’s retreat, and her own com- 
plicity in her flight, she found it difficult to decide. 

An anonymous note would obtain but partial credence, 
and might drive the mother frantic with suspense and 
anxiety. If she went in person to see Mrs. Holden, Mary 
feared that she might in some way be compelled to dis- 
close the whole secret with which she had been intrusted, 
and which she had so long sacredly guarded. 

Yet she decided, after much reflection, on this course. 
She was sure that she was unknown to any member of the 
Holden family, except Lucy, her former schoolmate, and 
resolving to see the mother alone, she believed she could 
accomplish her errand without divulging that portion of 
her friend’s secret which it was still considered important 
to preserve. 

Without assuming a positive disguise, Mary dressed her- 
self a little below her station when she went on this er- 
rand, hoping that she might be mistaken for a “ help.” But 
here was an evident error of judgment, for it was only by 
over-dressing, with the aid of manners to match, that she 
could properly enact the role of a Biddy. 

She found the Holdens’ new home with great difficulty, 
for she had never heard of the failure of Mark or of his 
change of residence. But there was no mistaking the signs 
of poverty in the present surroundings of the once wealthy 
family — for the street, the house, and the furniture all 
told the same story of indigence ; a few degrees above 
destitution, yet quite beneath the low water mark of re- 
spectability. 

Miss Blythe rang several times before the door was 
opened by a sad-looking girl, whose dress betokened a ser- 
vant of all work, but whose striking resemblance to Lucy 
could not be mistaken. 

She looked very earnestly at the visitor, and seemed re- 
lieved at not recognizing her, and when the latter in- 
quired for Mrs. Holden, Fanny, for she it was, showed 
her into a small darkened parlor, saying, “I will call her.” 

She did not say, “ I will call mother,” for the poor girl 
evidently did not want to be taken, in such a “rig,” for 
one of the family. 


206 


ROXY II ASTIR GS. 

It was long before Mrs. Holden came — a tall, spare lady, 
apparently under fifty, with the remains of beauty in an 
oval and very white face, but slightly wrinkled and bor- 
dered with little feeble black and gray curls. 

She bowed to Miss Blythe, who had risen as she entered, 
and who said with some embarrassment : 

“ This is Mrs. Holden, I presume ?” 

“Yes— be seated, if you please. My daughter did not 
bring me your name, and — ” 

“ I did not give it to her, ” said Mary, in a low voice. “ I 
am a stranger to you, and have called to speak to you on 
a subject of great interest.” * 

Mary’s voice already faltered, and she had turned quite 
pale, which, however, the darkness of the room prevented 
from being very manifest. 

“ Of interest to you — or to me ?” the other asked, very 
quickly. 

“ To you, madam. I knew your daughter, Lucy — ” 

“ And you know some particulars of her death ?” said the 
mother, rising and approaching her visitor, and speaking 
very rapidly. “ Tell me — tell me all that you know of my 
darling. Why do you not speak? For pity’s sake— for 
Heaven’s sake, tell me all and quickly.” 

“No, I can tell you no particulars of her death.” 

“But, but you saw her, perhaps, after she left home, 
and before that dreadful occurrence. You have some mes- 
sage from her — some word of forgiveness for me — for me 
— one of her murderers. ” 

The frantic woman rather screamed than spoke these 
words, falling upon her knees before Mary’s chair, and 
clasping the frightened girl’s hands. 

“You must be calm, my dear madam,” said Miss 
Blythe, raising her and compelling her to be seated, “ if 
you would hear what I have to say. ” 

“I will — I will,” replied the wretched woman, trembling 
like a leaf in the wind. 

“I want to ask you, then, if you are altogether certain 
that your daughter is dead ?” 

“Certain. Ah, yes. Do you not know that her body was 
found — and — ” 

“But— but I mean to ask, was it fully identified ? Was 
there no possibility of a mistake ?” 

“We tried to hope so,” was the reply of a voice so mourn- 
ful that it might have come from the tomb of the unknown 
girl they had given sepulture to. “ But the identification 
was complete. ” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


207 


“ I have reason — some reason — I say not how much — to 
believe there was a mistake. ” 

Again the agitated mother was upon her feet, and had 
approached Miss Blythe, white as a ghost, and trembling 
violently. 

“ You have not told me all,” she said. “ There is more. I 
see it in your face — in your eyes. ” 

u Yes— there is more — when you are calm enough to 
hear it. ” 

“ I am calm. Oh, I am calm, ” said the other, speaking 
rapidly and shaking like one in an ague fit, “and good 
news never kills. I know you have good news. I read it 
on your lips. You think my darling is living — perhaps you 
know it.” 

There is no describing the energy with which she spoke. 

“Yes, I know it.” 

There was a faint scream of joy, and then she felt the 
weight grow heavy on the arm which the mother had 
taken, and she lowered the swooning woman into an 
easy-chair, and throwing open a door, called for help. 

Fanny and Grace came running, greatly frightened, and 
casting almost angry glances at the stranger, they flew to 
their mother, whom Mary was supporting, and called 
frantically upon her. 

“ Bring water ! Open the windows ! She will revive in 
a moment, ” said Miss Blythe, calmly. 

She did so. 

“ What is it ?” she said, when she saw them standing 
about her, and then catching a glimpse of , her visitor, her 
memory returned, and such a radiant expression over- 
spread her face as might have befitted a saint ascending to 
glory. 

“Joy! joy! joy!” she said, throwing an arm around 
each of her daughters, who had pressed closely to her. 
“Lucy is alive ! We shall see her again ! All our troubles 
are over, for henceforth we can defy poverty. ” 

The young ladies were terrified, for an instant, with the 
idea that their mother had gone mad, but when Miss 
Blythe confirmed her statement, and assured them that 
she had received a letter from their sister within a week, 
their delight was unbounded. They embraced each other, 
they embraced their mother, and then, weeping with joy, 
they all knelt and returned devoutest thanks to the Giver 
of all Good. 

In the height of this great excitement no one had yet 

asked where Lucy Holden was, or who was this messenger 


208 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


of comfort to the afflicted family, but it did not detract 
much from the joy of the late mourners to find that their 
inquiries to these points could not yet be answered. 

“I shall write to Lucy this week,” Mary said, “and I 
will send any message, or any letter even, that you may 
wish to forward to her, and if she replies I will bring you 
her answer.” 

The ladies eagerly accepted this offer, and promised to 
have letters ready the next day. 

But how shall we get them to you ?” they asked.^ 

“I will call for them the day after to-morrow*” Mary 
said, “on your solemn promise that I shall not be watched, 
and that no effort shall be made to learn who I am, or 
where I reside.” 

This was readily promised. 

“But I must warn you,” continued Miss Blythe, “not 
to expect a speedy answer to your letters ; perhaps not 
within a month. ” 

“Lucy is then very distant?” said the mother, quickly. 
“ Probably in the far West, or perhaps even beyond the 
sea. ” 

Mary did not reply to this conjecture, but was about to 
take her leave when she was sure that she saw a returning 
look of anxiety, almost of alarm, on Mrs. Holden’s face. It 
was too plain to be overlooked. 

“You have something more to say to me?” she said. 

“Yes,” replied the mother. “I cannot bear to see you 
go, for I know that my fears will get the ascendency when 
you are gone, and I shall be racked with doubt. ” 

“ Doubt of what ?” 

“ Of the certainty of this life-giving news. While you 
are here, and I look upon your truthful face, I cannot 
hesitate to believe all that you tell me. But I tremble when 
I remember what seemingly conclusive evidence we had of 
Lucy’s death. Do you understand me ?” 

“Yes, yes,” replied Mary, who seemed rather reflecting 
than listening, and who, with a hesitating air, touched the 
clasp of her reticule. 

“What is there, after all,” continued the mother, “to 
counterbalance that proof ? A stranger, refusing to give 
her name or residence, bringing no sign or token — ” 

“I will give you a sign,” said Mary. “You know your 
daughter’s writing?” 

“Yes, yes, yes !” was the eager response. 

Miss Blythe opened her reticule, and taking out Lucy’s 
letter, folded it so as to exhibit only the last few lines, 


liOXY HASTINGS. 


209 


with the signature, and handed it to Mrs. Holden, who, 
passionately kissing it, at once pronounced it genuine, and 
with quavering voice, read a few lines aloud : 

“They believe me dead; they have raised a monument to mo. Pray, 
let my mother be undeceived. In some way let her know that I am 
alive and well. Poor mamma ! poor mamma !” 

“ There can no longer be a doubt, ” she added. “ Lucy is 
as one risen from the dead. And now, sweet messenger of 
mercy, do not refuse me one request. Leave me these few 
lines with her dear name, that I may gaze upon them by 
night and by day ; that I may wear them next my heart, 
and take them out whenever I begin to fear that this has 
been all a dream. ” 

Miss Blythe complied with this request, cutting off a 
portion of the letter and handing it to Mrs. Holden, and 
then taking her departure. 


CHAPTER XL. 

“dead to her.” 

It was not until the visitor was gone that the happy 
mother remembered what momentous tidings she had to 
send to Lucy, not of their lost wealth, for that she' con- 
sidered trivial now, but of the safety of Alfred Lee. 

That this intelligence, together with an assurance of her 
parents’ full consent now to their union, would bring her 
speedily home Mrs. Holden did not for a moment doubt. 
But how did she know, she asked herself, that Alfred Lee 
was still willing to wed her daughter? Would he renew, 
in their low estate, the offer which had been spurned by 
her parents in their prosperity ? 

Besides, he might already have formed another attach- 
ment, for in common with all Lucy’s friends he had long 
supposed her dead, and being unwilling to awaken hopes 
which might again be blasted — she resolved to see Mr. 
Lee and make certain of his sentiments before writing to 
her daughter. 

Without communicating her designs to any one she set 
out on this delicate errand .on the day after Miss Blythe’s 
visit, being resolved to do what she could to repair the 
wrong she had committed, without the least regard to any 
personal considerations. 


210 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


She had no longer any pride to be wounded, any dignity 
to be lowered — she was willing to abase herself to the dust 
to serve the loved child who seemed to have been so mirac- 
ulously restored to her. 

Yet Mrs. Holden was not capable of doing anything un- 
ladylike. 

u Alfred either loves my daughter still or he does not,” 
she said to herself. “ Nothing that I can do will alter facts. 
I go not to ask favors, but to prevent further suffering 
from misapprehension. ” 

She knew the late residence of the Lees, for her husband, 
it will be remembered, had once been there, and thither 
she proceeded with palpitating heart, but only to find the 
house in the possession of strangers. 

She went in in hopes of getting information, and she 
succeeded, for Mrs. Welles, a middle-aged and very loqua- 
cious lady, knew all about the Lees, as, indeed, she said, 
she had good reason to. Her husband had once been a 
clerk in the old gentleman’s store, and being out of health 
and out of business, was “of course rather limited in 
means.” He was, in fact, a shiftless, unenergetic, good 
natured fellow, without a cent. Mr. Charles Lee had very 
generously insisted on their occupying his furnished 
house, rent free, and quite nicely it was furnished, too, she 
said, looking around with much complacency at her really 
elegant little parlor. 

“ I suppose,” she added, “ Edgar wouldn’t like the idea of 
my telling all this — and to a stranger, too, and I did not 
mean to, but it slipped out. The truth is, I cannot keep a 
secret, and I hate your close-mouthed people who never 
tell anything. ” 

Mrs. Welles talked as if she had not had a chance before 
in a long time, and her visitor, watching her chance to 
speak at last inquired where her friends had moved to. 

“It’s the corner of Twenty something and Fifth avenue,” 
the lady replied, “I can’t quite remember, but it’s a large 
four-story stone house, with their name on the door. ” 

Mrs. Holden’s countenance fell. 

“Why, they must have become rich, then,” she said, 
“ or at least — ” 

“Rich!” interrupted the lady, “bless you, haven’t you 
heard ? But you live in the country, perhaps. Why, the 
Lees are said to be worth millions. It’s only lately come 
out, but their wealth is something extraordinary even in 
these days of colossal fortunes, 

“ How did they acquire it ?’> 


&OXY HASTINGS. 


211 


“I don’t know. A gold mine, I believe, that the old 
gentleman had an interest in, and which has begun to 
yield since his death. That’s the story, but Edgar says 
they are very close about it— Charles and Alfred both. ” 

“Are they both so rich?” 

“Yes, or if not we don’t know who has the most. I 
guess it’s a joint affair, so Edgar thinks. Are you a friend 
of the family ?” 

“No, I can scarcely look very much pleased.” 

“Oh, I did not mean that. I certainly wish them well, 
but I have not the right to call them my friends, as I 
have never even seen any of them — but one. ” 

“And which is that?” Mrs. Welles asked, quickly. 

Her visitor hesitated — and then replied, “Mr. Alfred Lee.” 

“ Alf ! Oh, yes, a noble fellow, ” she rattled on, without 
seeming to take breath, “ was in the army — taken prisoner 
— sent to Richmond — sentenced to death, and escaped in 
the most wonderful manner ; but perhaps you have heard 
of this.” 

“Yes.” 

“ Then he was engaged to a most beautiful and accom- 
plished young lady — father a Turk, mother a Jezebel — and 
they broke off the match and tried to force her to marry an 
old yellow miser, old enough to be her grandfather. Girl 
faithful ; wouldn’t do it — ran away and drowned herself. 
But perhaps you’ve heard that, too.” 

Mrs. Holden controlled her emotion, and said she had 
heard the story in a modified form. 

“Modified ! Oh, it was ten times worse, only I have not 
time to tell you — and poor Alfred, it nearly killed him, 
Edgar says. He’s traveled and everything — and he was 
quite a shadow, but he’s better now, and is consoling him- 
self with a young lady from Philadelphia — the sweetest 
creature of a lady you ever did see, only seventeen, and 
they are to be married next fall. ” 

Mrs. Holden averted her face to hide the emotion which 
she knew it must exhibit, for the words of the garrulous 
woman were like so many daggers to her poor tortured 
heart. 

“ Have you seen this lady ?” she asked, with assumed 
indifference. 

But Mrs. Welles was too intent on telling her story to 
discover any emotion that was vailed, however imper- 
fectly. 

“Yes, she’s here now — at the Lees’, I mean — on her 
second visit ; was here last fall when they lived in this 


212 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


house. Edgar and I called. We were boarding at Mrs. 
Badger’s, next street ; saw her then ; have seen her since 
riding out with him several times. ” 

“With Alfred?” 

“Of course! And very loving they were, too. I’m so 
glad he’s got over it. And Edgar thinks she’s very rich, 
too, for she does dress splendidly. ” 

Mrs. Holden had heard enough. She bade her loqua- 
cious friend good-by, and went home heart-sick, without 
attempting: further to prosecute her errand. How could 
she ? Even if there were room for some faint doubt of the 
new engagement, how could she — almost a pauper — go to 
this millionaire and hint, even most remotely, at the topic 
on which she had come to speak ? 

If Alfred Lee had remained a poor man she might have 
approached him on this subject, but the two families had 
completely changed places in society since he had proposed 
for Lucy, and had been rejected for his poverty alone. 

Then Mrs. Welles’ story of the new engagement was by 
no means improbable, and how would the mendicant 
mother look, seeking to revive a dead passion for her 
daughter, under the very roof which sheltered a new and 
innocent claimant to the heart and hand of Alfred Lee ? 

It was impossible. She utterly abandoned the thought, 
and she wrote to her daughter, urging her return, without 
making any allusion to her late lover, but informing her of 
their own changed fortunes, and of Mr. Burr’s marriage, 
and assuring her that no restraint or coercion should ever 
be exercised toward her again in reference to matrimony. 

When Miss Blythe called for the letters the anxious 
mother, still hesitating as to whether Lucy ought not to be 
undeceived in regard to Mr. Lee’s death, consulted her un- 
known friend about it, and was not surprised to find that 
the latter was entirely ignorant even of the name of Miss 
Holden’s lover. 

She had promised me her full confidence on this subject 
hereafter, ” Mary said, “ but all that she told me was that 
he went into the army and was killed. ” 

The story of Alfred’s wonderful escape, and the cruel 
manner in which it had been kept secret from Lucy, she 
now heard for the first time, with unutterable amazement. 

“And are you quite sure,” she asked, “of the truth of 
what you heard yesterday about Mr. Lee’s great wealth?” 

“I have not a doubt of it.” 

“ And — and about his — ” 

“ I have not mentioned his name in my letter to Lucy,” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


213 


said the mother, interrupting her. “ I thought it better 
not to do so under the circumstances. Let her think him 
dead. He is at least dead to her. ” 

“Perhaps it is best. But she must learn the truth at 
some time if she returns home. Would it not be better—” 
“ Do as you choose. I am not competent to decide, and 
perhaps your young years make you a better judge of what 
is right than I am. I am sure you are a true friend of 
Lucy.” 

“ I am sure that I am,” replied Mary, with tears. “I will 
take a few days to reflect, for this is a very important 
matter, and I will see you again before sending the let- 
ters. ” 

Mrs. Holden thanked her warmly, and they parted. 


CHAPTER XLI. 

GENERAL SURPRISE. 

Charles Lee had ceased to make a secret of his great 
wealth soon after Roxana came on her second visit, and he 
had done something else which better displayed his true 
character. 

“You must not imagine,” he said, when, in family coun- 
cil, he had disclosed the amount and the source of his 
riches to his astonished relations, “ that I call this property 
all mine. It is true that father gave me a deed of the 
Pennsylvania land, as about an equivalent for what he had 
given to each of the other children.” 

“Then I don’t see why it is not all yours,” said the 
mother, “ and there’s no fear of any of us wanting anything 
as long as you have it. ” 

“Legally it is all mine. But I am sure that father would 
never have made such a division of his property if he had 
known its value. Suppose Alf had had this woodland — ” 

“I’d have sold it to the first man that offered me a hun- 
dred dollars for it,” said Alf. 

“ Which I came precious near doing myself. But I mean 
to ask : suppose you had kept it, and made millions out of 
it, as I have done, should I have been satisfied without a 
good share of it ? I don’t believe I should, though I might 
not have mentioned it any more than you have. ” 

“ I really don’t think it would ever have occurred to me 
that I had any claims,” said Alf, laughing, “but since you 


214 BOXY HASTINGS. 

mention it, I wouldn’t mind taking a cool hundred thou- 
sand. ” 

“I shall give you no such thing; I have, after transfer- 
ring a snug little fortune to grandfather, as he will see by 
this bank book here — ” 

“To me !” exclaimed the major, taking the book ; “ why, 
bless the boy, what am I to do with it ? Why, twenty- 
th why ! I’m seventy-eight years old, Charley, and no- 

body to provide for. ” 

“ But you may live to be a hundred and seventy-eight, 
grandpa, or a hundred and fifty something, like old Parr. 
No matter. I want you to feel independent while you do 
live and to feel at liberty to dispose of it by will, when 
you die. Please say no more about it — it is yours. As I 
was going to say, then, I have divided the remainder of 
the property into four equal parts. I believe there are 
four of us,” he added, affecting to count upon his fingers. 
“Mother, Laura, “Alfred, and myself ; yes, that’s right. 
I don’t want to be a cent richer than the rest of you, and 
now I am not. That’s all there is about it.” 

As Charles spoke he handed to his astonished relations 
government bonds and certificates of the oil stock in their 
several names, to the amount which he had named, and 
then darted out of the room. 

Laura and Alf made chase, however, and brought him 
back captive, yet struggling, to receive their varied demon- 
strations of gratitude. 

“He’s a good boy,” said the major, trying to find an un- 
appropriated part of him to shake, for his hands and arms 
were captive, and Laura was in his lap, with her arms 
about his neck ; “he’s a good boy, and always was, and 
he’s done his duty, excepting this ; there was no need of 
this. ” 

“ Nor of these,” said his mother ; “I’m sure I don’t know 
what to do with them. You’ll have to take care of it all 
for me, Charley, any way. ” 

“Well, I will, mother, until somebody has a better right. 

I thought I saw General B looking very sharply at 

you the other night.” 

“So did I — so did I,” said Laura. 

“Nonsense, children, you ought to be ashamed.” 

“Oh, we’re not, though. You are only forty-five, mother, 
and you don’t look that by half a dozen years. Old Mrs. 
Bascon was sixty-seven and married a man as old as 
grandfather. ” 

“I think I’ll look around myself,” said the major, elicit- 


ROXY HASTINGS, 


215 


ing a general laugh, at which he affected to be much sur- 
prised. 

“At any rate,” he said, “we must get some of these 
young people married. It’s high time — high time.” 

Joke as this was it brought a cloud upon the faces of 
both the brothers, a cloud visible, despite the forced 
smiles which appeared a moment upon their lips, but 
neither of them replied, and the observing Laura hastened 
to change the subject of conversation. 

We have said that this conversation took place soon 
after Roxana Hastings came on her second visit, but of 
course she was not a witness to it. Charles did not doubt 
that it would be followed by a speedy publicity to the en- 
gagemnet which none of them any longer doubted existed 
between Alfred and Roxana. The lieutenant was a man of 
fortune now,*and he had seemed in a decidedly improved 
state of spirits for a long time prior to his accession to such 
great wealth. After that his fits of dejection seemed to 
diminish still more, both in frequency and intensity. 

He began to have business to attend to, and this, with 
his few recreations, employed so much of his time as to 
leave him little leisure for solitary musings. His mother, 
indeed, made it a point to keep him occupied and amused 
when he was at home, dreading nothing so much as his 
lapsing back into his old dismal mood. 

Again Roxy began to talk of home. Her visit had been 
a long one— she was neglecting her school— her mother 
was lonely— but all these objections were overruled. 

“We will send for your mother,” said Mrs. Lee; “she 
and I,” she added, significantly, “ought to be acquainted, 
and you know I have never yet seen her, and I am not 
well enough to go there.” 

“And you shall go to school here,” added Charles, “if 

y °^We must not let her go now,” the widow said, “not till 
everything is settled definitely.” 

“But don’t you think it is settled, mother?” Charles 
asked, in a voice from which somehow all its wonted music 
seemed to have departed. , 

“Between them — oh, yes. I know it is; that is, 1 do 
not quite know it, though I am nearly certain. But I want 
it acknowledged, and time set. Besides, if she isn’t here 
to cheer him— with her singing and her sketching and rid- 
ing— and her teaching him and drawing— and taking les- 
sons in Latin from him— he’ll fall back into his old moods ; 
I know he will.” 


216 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


Charles sighed and said “ of course. ” 

u The loss of occupation would be enough to bring it on ; 
he wants continual rousing. This melancholy is partly 
constitutional with him. ” 

“I dare say it is, for I’ve felt touches of it myself some- 
times.” 

So Roxy did not go home, and her mother when written 
to, said let her stay by all means, and she would come 
after her when she could not possibly stand it any longer. 

Thus affairs stood, when one afternoon Charles, who was 
in the library, awaiting dinner, was informed by a servant 
that there was a young lady in the parlor, who desired to 
see him. 

“ Tell Miss Lee, Tom,” said the young man, scarcely look- 
ing up from his book, “ it’s she that she wants to see proba- 
bly.” 

“Beg your pardon, sir,” said the man, “she certainly 
asked for Mr. Lee. ” 

Charley went, book in hand, and was surprised to see 
that his visitor was an entire stranger — a pale, fair young 
woman of twenty- three or four years, with the dress and 
manners of a lady, and with a strange mingling of timidity 
and resolution upon her expressive features. 

“You are surprised at this visit, Mr. Lee — and you will 
be still more so at the object of it, ” said Mary Blythe, after 
Charles, politely addressing her, had taken a seat near 
her. 

“Pleasantly surprised then, I hope,” said the young 
man, smiling, for he saw the growing embarrassment of 
the lady, and wanted to relieve her. 

“ Yes, sir ; I think I may safely promise that. And I 
must premise what I have to tell by saying that I was an 
intimate personal friend of Lucy Holden. ” 

“ Ah, indeed ! That most unfortunate young lady.” 

“ Most unfortunate, indeed, sir. And yet not in the sense 
in which you probably suppose.” 

“ I ref erred to the manner of her death only, which we 
all know to have been very terrible.” 

“ But let us suppose a possible mistake here, and that 
Miss Holden is still living.” 

“ Living ! Lucy Holden living ! Impossible !” said 
Charles. “ Why do you make such a conjecture ?” 

“I do not wish to agitate you,” returned Miss Blythe, 
who was indeed grieved to see no greater agitation in her 
companion, for she thought she was talking to Alfred, 
“but this is not altogether conjecture.” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


217 


“Pray tell me all that you know or believe, then. I am 
really very deeply interested in this subject.” 

“I suppose so,” said the disappointed girl, “or I should 
not have come to you with this intelligence. In short, then, 
I know that Lucy is alive — or rather that she was alive 
and well a few weeks ago. ” 

Charles arose and walked the room some minutes with- 
out speaking, and when at last he stopped in front of his 
visitor, his face expressed more of perplexity than of joy. 

“This is certainly most extraordinary news,” he said. 
“ Do her parents know it ?” 

“ They do. ” 

“ How long have they known it ?” 

“ Only three days. ” 

“ Did they send you here ?” 

“ No, sir ; they were not even aware of my coming. ” 

“ What would I have given to have had this information 
a few months sooner — but now — but now !” 

“ I must infer, ” said Miss Blythe, rising and speaking 
sadly, “that you have ceased to feel any deep personal in- 
terest in my friend. ” 

“ She was almost a stranger to me, but — ” 

“ A stranger ! Good heavens ! Am I not talking to Mr. 
Alfred Lee?” 

“ Certainly not, miss. Alfred is my brother. ” 

“Oh, I am so glad. Surely, surely, he will rejoice at 
this news.” 

“ He will rejoice, as I do, for her sake, and her friends. 
But let me explain that there are some complications about 
this matter, which will modify his joy, and will greatly 
embarrass us all. ” 

“ I think I can guess them. ” 

“Very likely. Oh, that we could have known this 
sooner ! How he loved her — how he mourned her, no lan- 
guage can tell ; but, alas ! he has since been encouraged 
to form another attachment for a sweet, innocent girl, 
whose affections are of course fully centered upon him. ” 
Mary sighed and said : 

“ And they are engaged, I suppose. ” 

“Yes — impliedly, at least — and probably by actual agree- 
ment. But it is my duty to inform Alfred of this news, 
for sooner or later he must know it, of course. Perhaps 
you would prefer to communicate it to him yourself ; if so 
I will call him, for he is in the house. ” 

“ Certainly not. Let me not even be present when it is 


218 ROXY HASTINGS. 

told to him. I have accomplished my errand and will 
retire.” 

“ Not, I hope, without favoring us with your address. My 
brother might desire to see you. ” 

“You must excuse me. I cannot give you my name or 
residence, for at present I am pledged to withhold from 
Lucy’s friends all clew to her retreat. But I will call here 
again any day that you wish. ” 

‘ ‘ To-morrow i Call to-morrow, and I shall be greatly 
obliged to you, miss,” said Charles, politely bowing his 
fair visitor out. 

“More mystery. More mystery, Charley,” said his sis- 
ter, as the front door closed upon the strange lady. 

“ Here has dinner been cooling these ten minutes.” 

“ Dinner ! And I never thought to ask her. Dear, dear, 
how uncivil.” 


CHAPTER XLII. 

“what bliss it will be.” 

It was a painfully embarrassing duty that Charles Lee 
had to perform, but he resolved to lose no time in discharg- 
ing it, and he accompanied his brother to his room after 
dinner, revolving how he could best broach so delicate a 
subject. 

Determined not to hesitate, he plunged in media res by 
saying : 

“Am I entitled to your full confidence, Alf ?” 

“Confidence? You?” was the quick response. “Most 
certainly. I have not a secret in the world from you, and 
never wish to have.” 

“ But about Roxy — ” 

“ I have been intending to speak to you on this subject 
for some time, and I am glad that you have given me so 
good a chance. ” 

He drew his chair near to that of Charles, as he said 
this, and the latter, summoning up a cheery look, or rather 
the poor counterfeit of one, prepared to hear a story of new 
love, and a new engagement. 

“Poor dear mother has suffered so much for me,” the 
lieutenant continued, “ that I dare not tell her what I am 
going to confess to you. She thinks— and it seems that 
even you have thought it possible— that my heart could 
prove faithless to that dear girl whose love for me cost her 


ROXY HASTINGS. 219 

her life, and whose image no time can ever eradicate from 
my breast. ” 

What strange light is that which glows in the dark eyes 
of the listener ? What shadow is that which seems to flit 
away from his features, leaving them bright and radiant, 
and altogether unsympathizing with the mournful look 
and voice of the speaker ? 

“If Roxana and I have been friendly,” continued Alfred 
“it has been with a perfect understanding of each other’s 
sentiments. She knows that I have no heart to bestow, 
and if it were otherwise I really doubt whether it would 
be acceptable to her. I long ago took the precaution to 
prevent any mistake on this subject, and, indeed, it was 
not until I had done so, and we had established the rela- 
tion of quasi brother and sister, that Miss Hastings laid 
aside her reserve, and admitted me fully to her friend- 
ship. ” 

“You astonish me, Alfred,” replied Charles. 

“If I had supposed that you shared mother’s mistake on 
this subject, I should have undeceived you sooner, but I 
cannot bear to awaken her from so harmless a hallucina- 
tion. The necessity of concealing my unhappiness from one 
who so profoundly sympathizes with it has added not a 
little to its intensity ; and, while I maintain a semblance 
of cheerfulness, my dejection is daily deepening, and is be- 
coming a part of my mental constitution. ” 

Charley rubbed his hands, and’ looked anything but 
sorry. 

“ I have said more than I meant to on this point, but it 
has been in my zeal to impress upon you the fact that 
Roxy is not, and never by any possible contingency can 
be, anything more to me than a friend. Do you fully 
understand and believe me ?” 

“Yes — oh, yes!” replied Charles, smiling. “I cannot 
mistake such language as this. ” 

“ If it grieves you, as I fear it does, to know this, for I 
begin to suspect there was complicity between you and 
mother in this innocent artifice. ” 

Alfred paused, and his brother replied : 

“ Yes, Alf , to be frank with you, I knew of it, and — and 
was a party to it. ” 

“ And will it disappoint you very much to know that it 
never can be ?” 

“Oh, no; I can stand it,” replied Charles, fairly laugh- 
ing now. “ You shall see*” 


220 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


The lieutenant thought his brother’s conduct strange, 
but he knew that Charles was right at heart. 

“And now,” resumed the latter, “I want to say some- 
thing to you on another subject, or rather on one of the top- 
ics which — which we have already touched upon. ” 

“ Does it relate to Lucy ?” asked the other, quickly. 

“Yes— to Lucy.” 

“ The visit of that strange young lady to you — had that 
anything to do wtih what you have to tell me ? Have you 
come here on purpose to say it ? Is it — is it something 
that justifies your evident joy at my not being engaged to 
Roxy ?” 

It was with terrible earnestness that these words were 
spoken ; it was wonderful with what electric rapidity the 
idea that suggested them had sprung into life. 

While Charles hesitated how to reply, his brother contin- 
ued, still speaking rapidly : 

“You know that despite all the appalling proofs to the 
contrary, I have sometimes contemplated the possibility of 
Lucy being still alive. ” 

“ I know — I know. ” 

“ If there is anything that can afford ailment to such a 
hope as this, anything that can justify a renewal of re- 
searches which we have supposed exhaustive — anything 
that would make it not the act of a madman to go on a 
pligrimage through every quarter of the globe in search of 
her — speak — and speak quickly — but if otherwise, wait, 
oh, wait a brief moment, my dear brother, and give me 
time to meet the shock of your answ T er. ” 

The wild energy with which all this was spoken, except- 
ing the last sentence, which was uttered in a low and al- 
most waliing tone, cannot be expressed. 

“Fear nothing from my answer,” said Charles, quickly 
and cheerily. “ If I had not ground for hope do you think 
I would have permitted you to indulge it, even for a mo- 
ment ?” 

Alfred’s arms were around his brother’s neck ere this 
sentence was half uttered. 

“ Tell me all ! Tell me all !” he said. 

“ Nay, Alf, not yet, not quite yet. But I bid you hope ! 
I assure you that it will not be the act of a madman to go 
in search of her, for nothing is more certain than that she 
does not lie beneath that monument which records her vir- 
tues, and the late repentance of her friends. ” 

“And there is a clew,” gasped Alfred, “a clew to her re- 
treat ? Tell me that I Tell me that !” 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


221 


“ There is a clew, but compose yourself now, and you 
shall soon know all that I can tell you.” 

“ Right ! Leave me a little while with my joy, my great 
joy, but before you go tell me does mother — ” 

“Not yet — not yet.” 

“ Be careful then — be careful of mother.” 

“ I shall leave it for you, Alf, to tell her. The^e is no 
haste ” 

“ Thank you. What bliss it will be. Yes — yes, let me 
tell her — let me witness the dawn of returning happiness 
and serenity in her long sorrowing heart. ” 

Later in the evening of that eventful day everything was 
divulged to Alfred and to all the members of the happy 
family, who discussed the exciting subject to a late hour, 
and looked impatiently forward to the expected revelations 
of the next day. 

Mary Blythe came, punctual to her appointment, and 
was received by Charles alone, whose face was so radiant 
with delight that it proclaimed his good news before he 
had power to give utterance to it in words. 

“It is all right— all right,” he said ; “ we were under a 
cloud yesterday, but, thank Heaven, it is lifted to-day.” 

He shook hands with his visitor very cordially as he 
spoke, and the delighted Mary replied, hesitatingly : 

“Then Lieutenant Lee still loves Lucy Holden.” 

“Yes, more fully, more fervently than ever. He has 
never for a moment been unfaithful to her memory. Our 
conjectures were all wrong.” 

“ Then this is the happiest day of my life. What tidings 
to take to her mother, whom I left but half an hour since, 
sad and foreboding.” _ . , 

“Dear! Dear! You must hasten back to her, but not 
until you have seen Alfred— and— and the rest. They are 
all waiting to be summoned to this interview, even little 
Roxy, who was the innocent cause of my misunderstand- 
ing. ” 

Mary assented, of course, and the family, including old 
Major Todd and Miss Hastings, came in with little regard 
to ceremony, and flocked about the visitor, whom they all 
shook cordially by the hand, in the midst of a very extra- 
ordinary introduction by Charles. 

“This is Miss Hastings,” said the excited youth, present- 
ing his grandfather, amid a shout of merriment. 

“ And this is grandpa,” said Laura, leading up Roxy. 

“Well well, introduce yourselves,” said Charley, laugh- 
ing “ I forget the names just now, but they’re all there.’ 


222 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


Not the least, embarrassed, fully understanding their ex- 
citement, and participating in it, Miss Blythe greeted 
them all cordially, and felt quite at home. 

“It was just a toss up whether it was to be a laugh or a 
cry,” the old major said, “and I’m glad it was a laugh.” 

“So am I,” replied the widow, wiping her eyes, which 
i were quite red, “but — but we do not yet know who it is 
that has made us all so happy.” 

! “ Is there need for further secrecy ?” the lieutenant asked, 

in a kindly tone, “ or if there is any reason for preserving 
your incognito I hope you are at liberty at once to disclose 
the place of Lucy’s retreat. Surely nothing but- the most 
imperative reasons can justify you in withholding this, 
since she has no longer any enemies, and I am ready this 
hour to go in pursuit of her.” 

No ; there was no reason. Mary told the whole story 
frankly and quickly, to the great joy of her listeners, al- 
though there was a slight alloy in the thought that an 
ocean still intervened between them and Lucy Holden. 

“ I shall sail on the first steamer, ” said Alfred, “ which 
leaves on Saturday. Miss Blythe will give me her ad- 
dress, and — ” 

“ Oh, how I wish I could go with you l” exclaimed Laura. 

“But you can. What is to prevent ? Nothing could give 
me more pleasure. ” 

“ But — I am not ready. ” 

“ Tut ! tut I You have forty-eight hours to get ready in.” 

“ But I can not leave mother. ” 

“Yes, you can, if Roxy will stay,” replied the widow. 

All eyes turned to Roxy, but she saw only those of 
Charles, and she blushed a warm, conscious blush, which 
the dull fellow did not in the least comprehend. 

“You will stay, Roxy, won’t you?” Laura asked, but 
without eliciting a reply. 

“Say yes, my dear,” said the widow. 

“ It will be such a favor, ” added Alf . 

“We can’t spare little Birdie,” said the old major, 
chucking her under the chin. 

But not a word said Birdie, and not a word said Charles, 
who listened, however, very intently for her answer. 

“ Why don’t you urge her, Charles ?” asked the mother. 
“You are master of the house, and there you stand and 
never speak. ” 

“ Am I master of the house ? I never knew that, but I 
shall really be very happy if Miss Hastings can find it 
consistent to stay. ” 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


223 


“Really! You are growing polite, my son. I don’t 
think Miss Hastings can find it in her heart to go after 
such a cordial invitation as that. 

“Now, mother, what have I done?” asked Charles, 
roused by this ironical speech to a sense of being some- 
how in the wrong. “ Roxy knows that I want her to stay ; 
and I will undertake to induce her mother to come and 
spend the summer with us, too, if she will remain. ” 

“ Ah ! that sounds something like. What say you now, 
my dear ?” 

Miss Hastings laughed now, and said they made her of 
quite too much importance, and she was sure she was of no 
use to anybody ; but if her mother would come and make 
a visit she would certainly stay until Alfred and Laura 
returned from England. 

So it was managed that Laura should go ; and Miss 
Blythe, after an almost affectionate leave-taking of the 
family, who hoped, they said, to count her henceforth 
among their most intimate friends, went her way, and 
was soon opening her budget of good news to Mrs. Holden 
and her daughters. 


CHAPTER XLIII. 
what’s in a name. 

Lieutenant Lee did not sail in the first steamer for Eng- 
land, as he had intended. Indeed, nearly a week elapsed 
before his departure, much to his sister’s surprise, as well 
as relief, for the delay enabled her to make better prep- 
aration for her journey. 

What extraordinary business it was that was thus allowed 
to retard his impetuous movements, no one was allowed to 
know ; but that he was in a very excited and happy state 
of mind during this interval, was apparent to all. 

“Better get ‘a good ready,’ ” he said to Laura, “for we 
shall want to take a look at Paris, and parts of Switzer- 
land, and perhaps take a run down into Italy, and up into 
Germany and Holland. It won’t do to go so far without 
some ‘ sight-seeing. ’ ” 

Their voyage was remarkable for nothing excepting a 
few very agreeable acquaintances made on the way ; one 
of whom, a young gentleman, was introduced to Alfred 
and Laura by the captain of the vessel, on the quarter- 
deck, on the morning after leaving the harbor. 


224 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


Nothing could be more prepossessing than the manners of 
this handsome young man, whose pale and intellectual 
countenance indicated a student life, and whose own draw- 
back, if it ought to be so considered, was a name which 
provoked a smile whenever it was uttered. 

“ Mr. Tinklepaugh, Lieutenant Lee. Miss Lee, Mr. 
Tinklepaugh. ” 

Such was the introduction amid scarcely suppressed 
smiles, in which the stranger joined, though not without 
a slight blush to betoken his embarrassment. 

As the captain had vouched for the entire respectability 
of this young gentleman, and as his dress was as faultless 
as his deportment, there was no reason for Alfred and 
Laura depriving themselves of his agreeable society, of 
which he seemed willing to accord them a great deal. Not 
that he ever obtruded himself upon them ; on the contrary, 
Alfred made by far the most advances, and seemed to at- 
tain to a rapid intimacy with him, before Laura had passed 
the more formal stages of acquaintanceship. 

“Tinklepaugh ! Tinklepaugh !” she would say. “I can’t 
speak to him without laughing, Alf. It is impossible. 
I must shun him. ” 

“Nonsense ! You’ll soon get used to it, and then you’ll 
think nothing of it. ” 

“ But let me avoid him then, until I do get used to it, for 
I certainly cannot say ‘good-morning, Mr. Tinklepaugh,’ 
without laughing broadly. ” 

“Then don’t say it. Say ‘good-morning, sir.’ ” 

“Well, if that will do, I’ll try to meet him. But I 
thought that was not a very polite mode of address. '’ 

“ He will undertsand the reason, and make allowances. ” 

But there was no resisting the fascinations of Mr. Tinkel- 
paugh, and in a few days the intimacy of these three young 
people had ripened to such a degree that they all laughed 
openly about his odd name, which began to lose something 
of its repulsiveness in Laura’s ears. 

He was intelligent; he danced and sang well; he 
sketched from nature, evidently with an educated hand, 
and he was fully competent to instruct Laura at chess, al- 
though she had considered herself quite proficient in that 
intellectual game. 

They played a great deal, and as Alf did not even know 
a rook from a knight, they were often left alone over their 
sport, while the lieutenant was deep in some absorbing 
book, or was writing letters home, or was smoking his 
cherished cigar on deck. 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


225 


Not only at chess, but at the piano, and sometimes on 
the quarter-deck, Laura and her new friend were often to- 
gether, without Alfred, who did not seem to observe their 
growing intimacy, and who certainly took no measures to 
check it. 

He seemed startled once, but only into a smile, by a ques- 
tion which his simple-minded sister put to him as they 
drew near the end of their voyage. 

“ Are not names sometimes changed ?” she asked. 

“Oh, yes, very often,” the lieutenant replied, with a 
merry twinkle of the eye. 

Laura blushed and explained : 

“ But you know what I mean— changed by law in some 
way— or by the courts ?” 

“Yes — do you want to change yours?” 

“ Pshaw ! You know better. But there’s Mr. Tinklepaugh 
now. One would think he would like to avail himself of 
such a privilege. ” 

“ What ! renounce his ancestral name, with all its ten- 
der associations ! Think of Tinklepaugh, senior — of dear 
old Mrs. Tinklepaugh— of all the little Tinkles !” 

“Now, you are making fun, I know, but it’s no joking 
matter for him. ” 

“Does he complain of it?” 

“No, but everybody must laugh at him. Suppose he 
should want to get married — ” 

“O— o— h!” 

“ Why, yes, he might, you know, some time. What lady 
would have him with such a name ? And have it on her 
cards? Mrs. Jacob Tinklepaugh !” 

Alf laughed, and then, trying to check himself, he only 
laughed the more. He laughed uproariously — obstreper- 
ously, and when he found voice again, he said, wiping his 
eyes, for he had laughed the tears into them : 

“ Plenty of them. There would be plenty to take him, 
name and all — such a delightful fellow ! 

“ Do you think so ?” 

“Yes, that I do*'” 

Laura remained silent and thoughtful, and the subject 
was not resumed. 

But certain it was that Miss Lee’s spirits failed as the 
day of expected separation from her new friend ap- 
proached, and rapidly improved again in St. George’s 
channel as she listened to a brief conversation between him 
and her brother. 

“ Where are you going, Mr. Tinklepaugh ?” 


226 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“ Nowhere in particular. I’ve been thinking, if you and 
Miss Lee had no objections I would go with you ?” 

“We shall be delighted,” said Alf, “or at least I shall, 

and as to Laura ,” he added, looking at her, “she can 

speak for herself. ” 

“I am sure I shall be very happy,” Miss Lee said, with a 
sweet, frank smile. 

“But you don’t know where we are going,” resumed 
Alfred. 

“It will be a pleasant journey for me, I am sure, 
wherever it is,” replied Mr. T., looking at Laura. 

“We stop a while in Milburn, and then we may go to 
Iceland.” 

“ Very good*” 

“Siberia.” 

“ Capital. ” 

“Nova Zembla !” 

“Splendid l” 

“Why, Alfred,” said Laura, “I am sure I never heard 
you speak of going to any such dreadful places as these. 
You said London, Paris, and Genoa, and Brussels — Flor- 
ence and Rome, and — ” 

“Did I, my dear?” said Alf, laughing. “Well, it shall be 
just as you say — that is, you and one other person, whom 
I expect to see within the next forty-eight hours.” 

Lieutenant Lee’s spirits had been very exuberant 
throughout the voyage, but he began to be somewhat so- 
bered now by the more serious reflections which his pecu- 
liar position was calculated to awaken. Lucy Holden still 
believed him to be dead, and he certainly did not dare to 
awaken her from that settled conviction, either by appear- 
ing unannounced before her or by writing her a letter in 
his own name. 

Laura was evidently the fitting person to act as his pre- 
cursor, and to prepare her mind for that joyous intelli- 
gence, which might prove overpowering in its intensity if 
abruptly or injudiciously disclosed. 

Of course Miss Lee readily undertook the task, though 
not without misgivings as to her own judgment and self- 
command. 

“There is no one else— I must do it, of course,” she said, 
“but you must give me some hints, Alfred, for I have 
really no tact, you know, at anything. ” 

“You underrate yourself, Laura, I am sure,” was the 
reply, “but I shall of course have some suggestions to 
make which you can act upon if nothing better occurs to 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


227 


you. Our first care must be to get into shire as soon 

as possible, and establish ourselves somewhere in the 
neighborhood of the Allards. After that we must be 
guided by circumstances. ” 

“Yes.” 

“Heaven grant that we may find the dear girl there, and 
well, for I cannot avoid some forebodings. ” 

“ But surely, Alfred, you have no reason for apprehen- 
sion. ” 

“I do not know. We all know what the life of a 
governess is at the best, and — and I learned from Miss 
Blythe, the day before we sailed, that poor Lucy had been 
almost persecuted by the attentions of one of the young 
Allards. ” 

“ Is it possible ?” 

“Yes, and that his parents had joined in trying to per- 
suade her to accept him. ” 

‘ ‘ But you have no fears — ” 

“ No — not of that, but she may have felt compelled to 
quit the family, and she may be wandering in quest of a 
new home, without having left any clew by which we 
could follow her. Think of the perils which would en- 
viron her, in such a case as that, in a strange country, 
too. ” 

Laura combatted these fears of her over-anxious brother 
as well as she could, reassuring him chiefly by the reflec- 
tion that Providence, which had so signally preserved 
them both from serious peril would not fail to bring them 
together in safety. 


CHAPTER XLIV. 

LUCY’S JOY. 

The peace which had been concluded between the 
offended Mrs. Allard and her presuming governess was 
not of long continuance. Mortification rankled in the 
breast of the vain woman, and, although she would not 
make Lucy’s refusal of her son the ostensible cause of a 
quarrel, pretexts were not wanting for finding fault with 
the gentle girl. 

Perhaps if Miss Holden’s mind had not been too full of 
its one great sorrow she would have felt more keenly the 
petty annoyances to which she was subjected. 

As it was, she bore them all patiently, dreading nothing 


228 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


so much as the loss of even her miserable home, and being 
terror-stricken whenever her employer’s complainings 
ended, as they usually did, in some indirect threat of dis- 
missal. 

Mr. Edward’s travels were not very protracted, a,nd 
when the time drew nigh for his return the letters which 
heralded it became more frequent, and as these always 
contained some tender allusion to Lucy they usually pro- 
duced a temporary modification of the mother’s harshness 
toward her. 

There seemed so little of the element of firmness in the 
gentle, yielding governess that Mrs. Allard began to per- 
suade herself that her resolution might still be overcome, 
and that she might yet be induced to make the pining 
youth happy, especially as he would return with the polish 
of travel added to his “fascinatin’ ways.” 

“It’s got to be one of two things,” she said, expressively, 
if not elegantly, to her business husband, Avho seldom in- 
terfered with her domestic rule; “either she must have 
him, or she must budge. Ed’ard will never git over it as 
long as she’s about the house lookin’ so demure and kit- 
ten-like, and always dressed so neat. I know she does it a 
purpose.” 

“It’s the blue eyes and curls that captivate Ned,” said 
the other. 

“Yes, confound ’em. I’d like to see them curls clipped, 
and I believe she’d be shorn of her strength then, jest as 
Samson was.” 

Now, it so happened that the sighing Edward returned 
home in the same train which brought the American party 
from Liverpool to the town of Milburn ; that he sat near 
them ; that his attention was earnestly attracted to them 
by hearing the name of Allard spoken, and that he was 
driven nearly frantic by the mention of another name, 
which, as he had once poetically said, was “ engraven on 
the innermost of his heart. ” 

He listened intently, while he sucked and almost swal- 
lowed the ivory head of his rattan, and as he heard the 
most of the following conversation, although it was car- 
ried on in a low tone of voice, its effect upon him may 
well be imagined. 

“ I think we had better take Mr. Tinklepaugh into our 
confidence before we arrive at Milburn,” said Laura, “for 
I am really at my wits’ end how to manage. Perhaps he 
can help us out. ” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


229 


Alf smiled significantly, and said, “Very well,” and Mr. 
T. said he should be delighted. 

“ Shall I tell him the whole story ?” asked Laura. 

“Yes — while I take a nap. But make it brief for his 
sake. ” 

“Shall I begin back at the — ” 

“Oh, at the flood, of course. That’s the way you ladies 
always tell stories. ” 

“Now don’t be a bear, Alf,” said Laura, tapping him 
with her fan, “ but let me tell my story in my own way. ” 

She did. She began at the beginning — in her father’s life- 
time, in his prosperous days, when her brother was first 
an encouraged suitor for the hand of Lucy Holden. Her 
voice was low and soft, at least for a railway voice, but it 
was clear as a bell, and enough of its articulations reached 
the attentive ears of young Allard to give him the sub- 
stance of the whole strange story. 

How truly Alfred and Lucy had loved ; how cruelly they 
had been separated after his father’s changed fortunes had 
become known to the mercenary Mark Holden ; how he 
had joined the army, been taken prisoner, been condemned 
to death, and how wonderfully he had escaped. All this 
she told succinctly, graphically, dwelling on nothing long, 
except upon the noble, generous, self-sacrificing Louis 
Hartley, who, by his counsel and aid, had saved her 
brother’s life at the imminent risk of his own. 

She expressed her gratitude, her almost love for the un- 
known Louis in such a warm, earnest, womanly way that 
Tinkelpaugh did not seem to like it, and he looked away 
out of the window, instead of looking into her eyes as he 
had steadily done before. 

Laura did not like this, for she feared that it evinced the 
want of true nobleness of character in her friend. 

But she went on. Lucy’s new engagement — her flight — 
her supposed death — her entire ignorance up to the present 
hour of Alfred’s escape from the gallows, all were told, 
together with the means by which they had so recently 
discovered the place of her retreat. 

“We go now to seek her,” she added. “We know that 
she is, or was, a little more than a month ago, a governess 
in the family of a Mr. Allard, in the town which we are ap- 
proaching. But how to disclose to this dear, loving, faith- 
ful girl the news which we bring, or, rather, which I am to 
bring to her (for Alfred will not see her until I have pre- 
pared the way) — this is the problem before us. Can you 
give us any help ?” 


230 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


“I will certainly try,” said Tinkelpaugh. “We will talk 
it over at our hotel. I suppose we shall have time. ” 

“ Oh, we can take what time we choose, though Alfred 
will, of course, be impatient. ” 

“It is a most extraordinary story,” Mr. T. added, “and, 
I need not say, a most affecting one. I am greatly obliged 
to you for confiding it to me, for such a mark of your 
friendship, I mean. ” 

Yet Laura had not been quite satisfied with her friend's 
manner of hearing this narrative. It had been rather too 
polite and formal. There had been no starts and surprises ; 
in short, he acted like one who had heard it all before. 
Could Alfred have told it to him ? 

When the story was finished the rattan and its slim 
owner had disappeared ; and, when the train stopped 
“Ed’ard,” who thought, with his favorite poet, “Whate’er 
betide, I’ve felt the worst,” hurried home, pale and ex- 
cited, yet showing in every look and action how fully 
freighted he was with his wonderful tidings. 

He had not heard the solicitude expressed in regard to 
the effect of too abrupt a communication of the news to 
Miss Holden, and he was quite incapable of any such re- 
flection himself. 

Good news is good news, he thought, the world over, 
and though Lucy was certainly lost to him, it would be a 
pleasure to make her happy, and to win even some second- 
ary place in her regard. 

After that he thought he would be willing to go into a 
monastery. 

He had arrived a day earlier than he was expected, and 
there was only Mrs. Allard to meet him, in the first in- 
stance, for his father and brother were at their place of 
business, and Miss Holden, with the children, were in the 
school-room. 

After short and hurried greetings he interrupted his 
chagrined mother’s exclamations upon his improved ap- 
pearance by quickly asking : 

“Where’s Lucy?” 

“ In the school-room, Ed, but don’t be too impatient to 
see her. Play a little indifference if you want — ” 

“Oh, no ; that’s all over, mother. But I’ve got the most 
wonderful thing to tell her, and I must see her immedi- 
ately. They’ll be here in five minutes.” 

“ Who — who, my son ?” said the mother, catching hold of 
him, as he started to run up stairs. “Don’t go up. I’ll 
send for her. But who is it that’s coming?” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


231 


“ Oh, two gentlemen and a lady from New York — grand 
people — in the same train with me all the way from Liver- 
pool — have come after her. ” 

“Goodness gracious me !” 

“Fact. And — and — one is — But I’ll tell you when she 
comes. You just hurry her down, and don’t get ahead of 
me with the news. ” 

“No, no; you shall tell it.” 

Lucy soon came, preceded by the three children, who 
had rushed in, crowding and pushing each other, and 
very properly, for once, setting at defiance the rules of de- 
portment, which their governess had been instructed elabo- 
rately to instill into them. 

Miss Holden knew whom she was going to meet, and she 
advanced smilingly, prepared to give her late lover quite a 
friendly reception, but his look and manner did not per- 
mit her to remain an instant in doubt that something un- 
usual had occurred. 

• He shook her hand almost fiercely, saying, with flushed 
face, as he did so : 

“ How do ? Glad to see you. Handsome as ever. Great 
news. Glorious news. Wonderful news for you.” 

“For me ? For me ?” asked Lucy, turning pale. 

“Yes, yes. He’s alive. He’s alive. That other fellow, 
you know. I can’t think of his name now. The man that 
went to the war, and was going to be hung, but wasn’t, 
for he got away, and he’s here now on the train with me. 
Be here in five minutes. Mr. Lee — Alfred Lee ! That’s 
his name. And his sister, and another gentleman. ” 

Sputtering all this forth with amazing volubility, Ed- 
ward did not see the growing pallor of the listener, until, 
with a faint exclamation of joy, she sank, “ like a snow- 
wreath, ” to the floor, her white lips moving, but emitting 
no sound, while still her eager eyes were fixed upon the 
speaker, as if she would hear further confirmation of the 
joyous tidings. 

Delighted with the opportunity, the surprised young man 
lifted her to a sofa, and supported her upon it, while Mrs. 
Allard hastened to get wine and other restoratives, which 
she administered tenderly, calling her “my dear,” and 
seeming in an instant to lose all the harshness from her 
own nature. 

Lucy had not lost consciousness, and soon recovering her 
speech, she said with a sweet smile — though still tremb- 
ling violently : 

“Are— are you quite sure that all this is true?” 


232 


ROXY HASTINGS . 


“Oh, dead- sure.” 

“And that Alfred Lee is himself here ?” she asked, still 
more faintly. 

“Yes, yes, the lieutenant, the one that was in Richmond. 
I did not hear his Christian name. ” 

Hurriedly, pantingly, she drew a locket from her bosom, 
opened it, and held it up before young Allard’s eyes, with- 
out speaking, for again her voice seemed to have failed 
her, but with a look of the most painful anxiety. 

“Yes, yes ! That’s the face !” shouted Edward, “only he 
has a mustache now — that’s all the difference.” 

“ Don’t make a mistake now, Ed’ard,” said the mother, 
while Lucy’s eyes wandered rapidly from one to the other. 

“I can’t be mistaken, mother; I have been looking at 
him all the forenoon. I know every feature in this face as 
well as I do my own. He had a lady’s ring on his little 
finger, with six small pearls. 

“Oh, God ! I thank thee!” exclaimed Lucy, sinking to 
her knees before the sofa. “ No, no, there can no longer be 
a doubt. Pray — some one — help me to my room. ” 

“Yes, dear, but we cannot leave you alone there just 
yet,” said Mrs. Allard. “ You are very weak and faint.” ' 

When they had assisted her up stairs, and Edward, at 
his mother’s request, was about to withdraw, Lucy stopped 
him with a question. 

“ Did not you say something about one being with him ?” 

“ Goodness gracious, yes !” said Allard, smiling. “ His 
sister, Laura, and a Mr. Tinklejaw or some such name.” 

“ Her husband ?” 

“I don’t know. If he ain’t, he’s a going to be, I’ll be 
bound, for he never took his eyes off her.” 

“Then they ain’t married yet,” said the old lady, with a 
very positive air. 


CHAPTER XLV. 

SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT. 

Lucy continued so agitated that Mrs. Allard called in her 
family physician, who, after administering some medicine 
to quiet her nerves, advised that she should have an inter- 
view with Mr. Lee with as little delay as possible. 

“Her excitement will not subside until it culminates, 
and it will not culminate until she has seen him,” he said, 
gravely. “But let the first interview be short.” 


ROXY HASTINGS. 23r 

“W e expect them every minute,” said Mrs, Allard, and 
1 feel as if I should faint myself. I am sure Lucy will. ” 

“ N°* madam, she will not swoon again. The medicine 
which I have given her has this peculiar virtue— that it— 
that it holds the nerves at a certain degree of tension as if 
m a vice, madam— and— and — ” 

The front door bell rang, and off went Lucy into a de- 
cided syncope— as if on purpose to overset the doctor’s 
theory. 

While the physician gave his attention to the patient, 
protesting that she would rally in a single instant, Mrs. 
Allard looked out of the window and said : “ A carriage, I 
declare, and a lady and gentleman. Dear, dear ! I hope 
she will come out of it, doctor. ” 

“ Instantly— in a breath, madam, you shall see. Let 
them be shown up at once, madam, at once, so as to be 
here if possible when she revives. Then the fright will be 
over and she’ll be better.” 

Mrs. Allard hurried down to receive the visitors, who 
proved to be Laura and Mr. Tinklepaugh with whom Mr. 
u Ed’ard” was already in excited conversation, holding 
Laura’s card in his hand. 

“I — I’ll send it to her if the doctor allows it,” he said. 

“Ah, she is ill then,” said Miss Lee, anxiously. 

“No, ma’am, only she’s heard all about it— I mean about 
you coming and Mr. Lee— and she’s dreadfully shaken 
like.” 

“ Has heard it ? How was it possible ?” 

“ Why, in fact I brought it myself. I — I was in the cars 
with you and couldn’t help hearing — ” 

“Ah— I see—” 

“But here is mother. Mother, this is Miss Lee, and 
Mr.— Mr.— ” 

“ Tinklepaugh, ” said Laura, very gravely. 

Mrs. Allard shook hands with them in a very flurried 
way, and said : 

“You are to walk right up, if you please.” 

“Not I, I presume,” said Mr. T. 

“ Oh, this is not Mr. Lee, more’s the pity, for this doctor 
said the sooner she saw him the better ; she’s in a faintin’ 
fit now, miss, and he’d like to have him there when she 
comes out of it.” 

“I’ll go back for him immediately with the carriage,” 
said Tinklepaugh. “ I can have him here in five or six 
minutes. ” 

He did so. Laura went at once up stairs, and was at the 


234 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


bedside of the patient when she returned to consciousness. 
They had never met but once, but poor Lucy recognized 
her at a glance, and though voiceless she put her trembling 
arms around Laura’s neck, and they were long locked in a 
sisterly embrace. 

Not a word was spoken except by the motherly Mrs. 
Allard, who, greatly excited, kept saying, as she wiped her 
eyes : 

“ The dear loves ! The sweet, pretty creatures !” 

“ It is all right now, Lucy dear, ” said Miss Lee, at last. 
“Don’t try to talk now, for I know how you feel. Alfred 
is alive and well, and he will be here in a few minutes.” 

Lucy’s tears came freely now, and this the doctor said 
was “ a good sign, a very good sign. ” 

When Alfred came Mrs. Allard took herself and the 
physician out of the room, and no one but Laura witnessed 
the tender interview which followed, and which though 
protracted quite beyond the limit prescribed by the medi- 
cal man, did not result unfavorably to Miss Holden. Of 
its details ; of the heightened beauty which her now perfect 
happiness imparted to Lucy’s radiant features ; of Alfred’s 
inexpressible joy we do not propose to speak. Let us 
rather draw a vail over a scene which no pen could properly 
describe, and which imagination can only faintly depict. 

Miss Lee spent that night with Lucy, and on the next 
day the latter, although still pale and feeble, refused to be 
longer regarded as an invalid. 

She saw all her friends, and rode out with them, and re- 
ceived some further installments of information in regard 
to events which had taken place since she left America, 
including the marriage of her quondam lover, Mr. Burr. 
But they told her nothing yet of her father’s changed for- 
tunes, nor of the Lees’ newly acquired wealth, all of which 
was reserved for future explanation. 

At the urgent request of the Allards Laura remained 
their guest for the few days which were to intervene before 
the whole party were to leave town, either for Continental 
travel or for an immediate return to America, for already 
they were wavering upon this point, with the seeming ex- 
ception of Mr. Tinkelpaugh, who did not propose to aban- 
don his scheme of foreign travel. 

Lucy’s longings for home were so evident, her eyes filled 
so involuntarily, whenever any mention of her mother 
was made, that Alfred could not long remain blind to her 
wishes, nor could he for a moment think of disregarding 
them. 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


235 


“ She has suffered enough for me,” he said ; “ I will never 
plant another thorn in her path. ” 

When questioned Lucy could not deny her preferences, 
although she was ready to forego them for her friends, and 
even begged to be permitted to do so. 

But Alfred was resolute. They could travel another 
year, but they certainly would go home now, he said. 

They did so. Taking a kind farewell of the Allards, ex- 
cepting Edward, who, being unequal to the task of parting 
with Lucy, kept out of the way, they proceeded direct to 
London, where after taking a week’s survey of the me- 
tropolis of the world, the Lees and Miss Holden re-em- 
barked for New York in the very steamer which had 
brought them out. 

Mr. Tinklepaugh, who had kept with them in London, 
accompanied them to the ship, not looking half as miser- 
able as Laura desired, or as she was conscious that she 
was herself, while Alfred, the unfeeling fellow, seemed 
positively in glee at the prospect of parting with his friend. 

“Only half an hour more, Tinklepaugh,” he said, look- 
ing at his watch, as they walked the quarter-deck. “ Bet- 
ter be saying your last speeches, and let them be some- 
thing clever, if you want us to remember you a whole year 
by them. ” 

Mr. T. laughed and said he really could not think of any- 
thing clever. 

“ Shall you be absent a year ?” Laura asked, in a voice 
which was anything but cheerful. 

“ Why he can’t do Europe properly in much less time 
than that,” said Alf, answering for him. “Travel finishes 
a man’s education, you see, Laura, and Mr. Tinklepaugh 
isn’t a man to shirk business or study.” 

Then Lee led Lucy away to show her something about 
the ship, affecting to give Laura and her admirer a little 
time to themselves, and when, after a quarter of an hour 
he returned to them, he called out, gayly : 

“ Only ten minutes now, Mr. T. Take care that you 
don’t get carried off.” 

Laura never could have believed her brother to be so un- 
feeling, for she was sure he must have seen what good 
friends they had become, and he certainly had done all he 
could to make them so. Had Alfred really grown selfish in 
his great joy ?” 

But these were her thoughts only, as she looked mourn- 
fully upon her brother, and forced a feeble smile. 

“ Grood-by — now, Tinklepaugh— good-by 1 There they be^ 


236 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


gin to go !” said the lieutenant, shaking hands violently 
with his friend, and laughing loudly. “ Remember me to 
Louis Napoleon — and to Mount Blanc — and — and to the 
Pope, you know. Good-by !” 

u You had better give the rest of us a chance, Alfred,” 
said Lucy, advancing, and speaking for Laura. 

“No, I sha’n’t — nobody but me,” replied Alf, still holding 
his friend’s hand, and laughing again louder than before — 
“ nobody but me. ” 

Mr. T. laughed too now, quite obstreperously. There 
never was such a merry leave taking. 

“ Because, you see, ” continued the lieutenant, “ because 
he isn’t going ashore. He’s going back to New York with 
us ! Ha ! ha ! Lolly, what d’ye say to that?” 

He caught his sister around the neck and kissed her as 
he said this, and Laura, barely restraining the tears of joy 
which stood in her eyes, said as she broke from him, 
laughing and blushing : 

“Oh, I’m very glad we’ll have enough for euchre; it’s 
so awkward playing with entire strangers. ” 

“ Oh, yes, that’s what we’re all glad about, Tinklepaugh,” 
said Alf, while a general smile illumined the features of 
the friends, and Mr. T. , like Laura, looked a little — a very 
little embarrassed. 

“But,” said Miss Lee, with sudden gravity, “you cer- 
tainly told a — a— you said Mr. Tinklepaugh was not going 
back with us to New York.” 

“ Told the truth !” replied Alf, still in great excitement. 
“Mr. Tinklepaugh is not going back with us.” 

“ What do you mean now ? There is no understanding 
you, Alf.” 

“W T hy, I mean,” he said, “that this isn’t Mr. Tinkle- 
paugh, hut quite another man. In short, I mean that it’s 
Mr. Louis Hartley, late of the Richmond prison. ” 

No words could tell how utterly astounded both Laura 
and Lucy were, for the latter, of course, had heard the 
whole story of Lieutenant Lee’s escape, more than a week 
before, nor with what delight they now received this intel- 
ligence. 

Hartley shook hands with the ladies, saying, “ This was 
not my ruse, ladies. He would have it so, and you must 
not blame me. ” 

“I take the responsibility,” said Alf. “Alone I did it.” 

“If you were in fault,” Lucy added, “you have at least 
done penance in bearing that odious name so long, Mr. 
Tinklepaugh, indeed.” 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


237 


“ Tinklepaugh— ho, ho !” 

Again the laugh went round. 

But when the excitement abated a little Lucy Holden 
hastened to express hesitatingly, timidly, but in most earn 
est language the deep obligations which they were all under 
to Louis, and their lasting gratitude. She spoke from an 
overflowing heart, and with moist eyes, for she stood by 
the side of her lover, who had been rescued from an ig- 
nominious death, and his hand rested upon her shoulder. 

The merriment was over now, for a deeper feeling per- 
vaded all those young hearts, and even the gay lieutenant 
was obliged to avert his face, and affect a sudden interest 
in some distant object. 

Louis replied, making light of his services, and protest- 
ing his own greater obligations to Alfred, who had saved 
his life, and rescued him from sickness and starvation, by 
his tender and assiduous nursing. 

Miss Lee alone remained silent, for mindful of the glow- 
ing eulogy which she had passed on Louis to his face a 
week before, she dared not say more. Indeed, her emotion 
was so great that she could not trust herself to speak. 

To relieve them all Alfred hastened to tell them how he 
had conceived and executed this little piece of strategy, but 
this scarcely needs recording. 

Louis had been exchanged and furloughed, and having 
arrived in New York the day preceding that on which Al- 
fred and his sister were to have sailed, had sought out the 
lieutenant, who, keeping his arrival secret, postponed his 
voyage for a week and busied himself in the meantime in 
obtaining Hartley’s discharge from the army. 

To prevail on him after that to accompany him abroad, 
and to obtain the co-operation of the captain of the vessel 
in introducing the seeming stranger to him and his sister, 
had been an easy undertaking. 

But Alfred said nothing of his chief design in bringing 
his chosen friend and his sister into the close companion- 
ship which a sea voyage necessitated, and in trying the 
effect of the attractions of Louis’ noble nature upon Laura, 
while her heart was untrammeled by the sentiment of 
gratitude toward him. 

How well he w^as satisfied with his experiment need 
scarcely be said. 


238 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


CHAPTER XLVI. 

“’TWAS DE ANGEL OF DE LORD.” 

While these events had been occurring on the ocean and 
in a foreign land, Charley Lee and Roxana at home, with 
hearts really firmly knit to each other, had been the victims 
of a strange misunderstanding which had well-nigh ship- 
wrecked the happiness of each. 

That Roxy did not love him Charles was well assured, 
for she had always acted as if she were afraid of him, and 
since Alfred’s departure she had been more shy than ever. 

Miss Hastings, on the other hand, argued that Charley 
could never have labored so earnestly to bring about an 
engagement between her and his elder brother if he had 
cared for her himself. 

While this silly couple were thus making themselves 
very miserable old Major Todd, meeting the little beauty 
alone one morning in one of the parlors, said to her, with 
the freedom of old age : 

“ If you and Charley could only ‘ make it up, now, Roxy, 
how nice that would be. ” 

“Oh, major!” exclaimed Roxy, blushing deeper and 
deeper and deeper still, and vainly trying to hide her face 
from his observation. 

“ I’d much rather hear you call me grandfather than 
major,” continued the old man, “and I don’t see any reason 
why it shouldn’t be so.” 

“Really you must not talk like that,” said Roxy, dread- 
fully abashed, and scarcely knowing what she said. 

“ Why, why ? Wouldn’t you have him ? Hey ?” 

“ Why, he has never asked me, major, and never will. 
He’s much too good for me, and far, far above me, every 
way. There now, let me go, and pray do not say a word to 
any one else of what you have said to me, or I shall cer- 
tainly have to break my promise, and go home.” 

“There, there, Birdie, don’t cry ; don’t be offended at old 
grandpa. I did not mean to hurt your feelings. ” 

Roxy passed out, glancing her forgiveness at the major, 
with moist eyes and her usual sweet smile. 

The old gentleman went straight to Charley’s room, 


BOXY HASTINGS . 239 

where he found his grandson, reading, and looking as if he 
were very weary of his book, and himself, and everything 

61SG. 

He welcomed his grandfather as usual, flung down his 
book, and arose to give him a chair. 

“I want to ask you a question,” said the major. 

“ Twenty of them, grandfather. 

“No, only one. But it’s a big one,” replied the old man, 
laughing. 

“ I am all attention. ” 

“Why don’t you marry that little angel down stairs— 
Roxy ?” 

Jupiter ! What a blush for a man with a mustache and 
a goatee ! How it mantled cheeks and forehead and neck ! 

“Why— why— grandfather ! What put that into your 
head ?” 

“ No matter ! You haven’t answered my question.” 

“Why, Roxy don’t want me ; I — I’m not half handsome 
enough, or gay enough for her. She’s a thousand times too 
good for me.” 

“ Ha, ha, ha !” laughed the major. 

“What are you laughing at?” 

“No matter. Yes, I am laughing to hear you underrate 
yourself. I think you’re good enough for her, and then 
she owes everything to you. ” 

“ No, I owe everything to her. Besides, if it were other- 
wise I do not want any one to marry me out of gratitude. ” 

“ But if she loves you ?” 

“Ah, if indeed !” 

“ If she loves you with her whole heart, and has for a 
long, long time ?” 

“Well?” 

“Would you marry her then?” 

“Would I? Of course I would, grandfather, and be the 
happiest man in the world. ” 

“ Go ask her then. There she is walking in the garden. 
You may say I sent you if you choose.” 

“ Why, grandfather !” 

“ Yes, yes, go along. I say she loves you — dotes on you 
— is pining for you. Go along ! Go along !” 

Charley went, and in ten minutes, or fifteen at the farth- 
est, he was an engaged man, and with Roxy in tears, came 
back to thank the major for having broken the spell which 
seemed to have been laid upon them. 

The old gentleman congratulated them with great 
warmth, but at the same time laughed at them heartily tor 


240 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


a couple of moon-struck lovers who might just as well 
have been happy a month sooner. 

Little remains to be told, yet there was a little business 
matter left by the lieutenant in the hands of his brother, 
of which it is necessary to speak. 

“ She knows nothing of her parent’s poverty. She must 
not come home and find them in such a place as that, ” he 
said. “Will you see to this?” 

“ I will see to it,” Charles replied, and he did. 

To the boundless astonishment of Mark Holden, who was 
a wonderfully humbled man, and who did not interfere 
with his movements, he bought and furnished a pleasant 
house, which he presented to Lucy’s mother in the name of 
her future son-in-law, presenting her at the same time 
with a sum of money sufficient to relieve the family from 
any present embarrassment, and to enable them to receive 
their returning daughter with some semblance of their for- 
mer prosperity. 

The bliss of that reunion we shall not attempt to portray, 
nor the surprise and joy with which Lucy heard after she 
had reached home, for on this subject Alfred’s lips had 
been sealed before, of the great affluence to which her 
lover, and her future husband, had risen. 

The lieutenant did not allow many months to elapse be- 
fore he was entitled to that new appellation, and Louis 
Hartley, or Louis Eldon, as he must now be called, had 
hoped that he should be able to celebrate his own nuptials 
with Laura at the same time. 

But to this Miss Lee would not consent. Charles’ mar- 
riage was not to take place in less than a year in conse- 
quence of Roxy’s youth, and Laura said that was soon 
enough for her. If she was worth having she was worth 
waiting for, and Louis gallantly said that he would wait 
half a century rather than marry any one else. 

The year was not long in passing. What year which the 
reader looks back upon seems now to have been longer in 
passing than the time consumed in reading this page ? 

Roxy resumed her school, and continued a diligent, 
earnest student up to within a month of that memorable 
double wedding which made brides and sisters of her and 
Laura, and exultant Benedicts of Charles and Louis — noble- 
hearted both, and brothers now in fact as they had long 
been in spirit. 

They were married at church, but let us take a glance at 
that festival which followed in Charley’s large mansion, 
and -see whom we recognize among the merry guests. 


ROXY HASTINGS. 


241 


There are Alfred and Lucy, who call themselves old 
married people now, but who look quite as much like bride 
and groom as the other blooming couples with whose joy 
they so fully sympathize. 

There is the widow Hastings, the picture of serenity, 
with laughing Tom Selby and his wife, who are all quite 
sure, and they whispered it among themselves, that little 
Roxy is the sweetest, prettiest bride of the three. 

There is old George Eldon, thawed out of his habitual 
glum into something like geniality, and his timid, but now 
jubilant wife, quite beginning to reassert herself, in view 
of dear Lewy’s success in winning so lovely a bride, and 
stepping at once into so high a social position. 

Had he not justified her hopes and predictions? And 
who shall say how her unspoken joy was augmented as she 
gazed at him by the remembrance of that dreadful day 
when she had been compelled to believe her dear boy a 
felon and an outcast. 

There are Celia, and Mary Ann, and Irene, gentle, bash- 
ful girls, with a fair show of charms, but destined here- 
after to be successively brought out from their chrysalis 
state, under the patronage of their distinguished sister-in- 
law. 

There are Mrs. Holden and her daughters, Fanny and 
Grace, happier than in their best estate, and scarcely re- 
gretting the lost wealth which brought them so little pleas- 
ure, but they have come without the humbled Mark, who 
has no longer a heart for scenes of gayety. 

And what shall we say of the Widow Lee, whose expres- 
sive features are all alive with the bliss with which her 
kind, loving heart is overflowing, or, of the tranquil and 
exultant major, who, in his easy-chair, receives every- 
body’s congratulations, and looks a very patriarch among 
the merry throng. 

In the spacious halls place, is found for the domestics to 
take a glance at the festivities, and among them is seen 
the honest face of old Luke, who is dressed in a ministerial 
suit of black, and whose gray hair, falling over his coat 
collar, gives him quite a venerable look. 

Louis and Alfred hear of his presence — they rush out and 
grasp his hands — they persuade him by long coaxing to 
enter the parlors, where they place him triumphantly be- 
side the approving old major, in just such another chair, 
and he becomes one of the lions of the evening. 

Every one knows his story, but there are few of the com- 
pany who have seen him before, and as the crowd thickens 


242 


BOXY HASTINGS. 


around him the old man, though abashed at first, gradually 
recovers his composure, and converses freely about the 
remarkable adventures of which he and “ the levtenant” 
had been the heroes. 

“ ’Twas de angel of de Lord dat went before us,” he said, 
with characteristic devoutness, “and we got through, 
dough ’twas a tight squeeze. Dine has come, too, now,” 
he said, “and old Hess can’t tech us here, bress de Lord.” 

(THE END.) 


“ THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT,” by 
Mary A. Denison, will be published in the next number 
(56) of The Select Series. 


THE COUNTY FAIR. 


By NEIL BURGESS. 

Written from the celebrated play now 
running its second continuous season in 
New York, and booked to run a third sea- 
son in the same theater. 

The scenes are among the New Hamp- 
shire hills, and picture the bright side of 
country life. The story is full of amusing 
events and happy incidents, something 
after the style of our “Old Homestead,” 
which is having such an enormous sale. 

“ THE COUNTY FAIR” will be one 
of the great hits of the season, and should 
f you fail to secure a copy you will miss a 
W/ literary treat. It is a spirited romance of 
town and country, and a faithful repro- 
duction of the drama, with the same unique 
characters, the same graphic scenes, but 
with the narrative more artistically rounded, and completed than was 
possible in the brief limits of a dramatic representation. This touch- 
ing story effectively demonstrates that it is possible to produce a novel 
which is at once wholesome and interesting in every part, without the 
introduction of an impure thought or suggestion. . Read the following 



OPINIONS OF THE PRESS: 

Mr. Neil Burgess has rewritten his play, “The County Fair,” in story form. It 
rounds out a narrative which is comparatively but sketched in the play. It only needs 
the first sentence to set going the memory and imagination of those who have seen the 
latter and whet the appetite for the rest of this lively conception of a live dramatist.— 
Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 

As “The County Fair” threatens to remain in New York for a long time the general 
public out of town may be glad to learn that the playwright has put the piece into print 
in the form of a story. A tale based upon a play may sometimes lack certain literary 
qualities, but it never is the sort of thing over which any one can fall asleep. For- 
tunately, “The County Fair” on the stage and in print is by the same author, so there 
can be no reason for fearing that the book misses any of the points of the drama which 
has been so successful — A”. Y. Herald. 

The idea of turning successful plays into novels seems to be getting popular. The 
latest book of this description is a story reproducing the action and incidents of Neil 
Burgess’ play, “The County Fair.” The tale, which is a romance based on scenes of 
home life and domestic joys and sorrows, follows closely the lines of the drama in 
story and plot.— Chicago Daily News. 

Mr. Burgess’ amusing play, “The County Fair." has been received with such favor 
that he has worked it over and expanded it into a novel of more than 200 pages. It will 
be enjoyed even by those who have never heard the play and still more by those who 
ha \e.— Cincinnati Times-Star. 

This touching story effectively demonstrates that it is possible to produce a novel 
•which is at once wholesome and interesting in every part, without the introduction of 
an impure thought or suggestion.— A Ibano Press. 

Street & Smith have issued “The County Fair.” This is a faithful reproduction of 
the drama of that name and is an affecting and vivid story of domestic life, joy and 
sorrow, and rural scenes .— San Francisco Call. 

This romance is written from the play of this name and is full of touching incidents. 
—Evansville Journal. 

It is founded on the popular play of the same name, in which Neil Burgess, who is 
also the author of the story, has achieved the dramatic success of the season .— Fall 
River Herald. 


The County Fail* is No. 33 of “The Select Series,” for 
sale by all Newsdealers, or will be sent, on receipt of price, 25 cents, to any 
address, postpaid, by STREET k SMITH, Publishers, 25*81 Rose st., New York, 


DENMAN THOMPSON’S OLD HOMESTEAD. 

STREET & SMITH’S SELECT SERIES No. 23- 


IPrice, 25 Cents. 


Some Omnions of the Press. 

** As the probabilities are remote of the play * The Old C'unestead ’ being 
Been anywhere but in large cities It is only fair that the story of the piece should 
oe printed. Like most stories written from plays it contains a great (leal which 
Is not said or done on the boards, yet It is no more verbose t han such a story 
should be and It gives some good pictures of the scenes and people who for a 
year or more have been delighting thousands nightly. Uncle Josh, Aunt Tlldy, 
Old Cy Prime, Reuben, the mythical Bill Jones, the sheriff and all the other char- 
acters are here, beside some new ones. It is to be hoped tnat the book will make 
a large sale, not only on Its merits, but that other play owners may feel encour- 
aged to let their works be read by the many thousands who cannot hope to see 
them on the stage."— A. Y. Herald, June ‘2d. 

*“ Denman Thompson’s ‘The Old Homestead’ is a story of clouds and sunshine 
alternating over a venerat d home; of a grand old man. honest and blunt, who 
loves ills honor as he loves ills life, yet suffers the agony of the condemned in 
learning of the deplorable conduct of a wayward son; a story of country life, love 
and jealousy, without an impure thought, and with the healthy flavor of the 
fields in every chapter. It Is founded on Denman Thompsons drama of ‘The 
Old Homestead.’ ”— N. Y. Press, May 26th. 

“ Messrs. Street & Smith, publishers of the New Yorlc Weekly, have brought 
out In book-form tiie story of * The Old Homestead,’ the play which, as produced 
by Mr. Denman Thompson, has met with such worfdrous success. It will proba- 
bly have a great sale, thus justifying the foresight of the publishers in giving the 
drama this permanent fiction form.”— N. Y. Morning Journal, June 2d. 

“The popularity of Denman Thompson’s play of * The Old Homestead’ has 
encouraged Street & Smith, evidently with his permission, to publish a good-sized 
novel with the same title, set in the same scenes and including the same charac- 
ters and more too. The book is a fair match for the play in the simple good taste 
and real ability with which it is written. The publishers are Street & Smith, and 
they have gotten the volume up in cheap popular form.” — N. Y. Graphic, May 29. 

“Denman Thompson’s play, ‘The Old Homestead,’ Is familiar, at least by rep 
utatlon, to every play -goer in the country. Its truth to nature and its simple 
pathos have been admirably preserved in this story, which Is founded upon It 
and follows its Incidents closely. The requirements of the stag make the action 
a little hurried at times, but the scenes described are brought before the mind’s 
eye with remarkable vividness, and the portrayal of life in the little New- Eng- 
land town Is almost perfect. Those who have never seen the play can get an 
excellent idea of what It Is like from the book. Bot h are free from sentlmentalit’' 
and sensation, and are remarkably healthy In tone.”- Albany Express. 

••Denman Thompson’s ‘Old Homestead' has been put Into story-rorm ana is is- 
sued by Street & Smith. The story will somewhat explain to those who have not 
seen It the great popularity or the play.”— Brooklyn Times, June Stli. 

“The fame of Denman Thompson’s play, ‘Old Homestead,’ Is world-wide. 
Tens of thousands have enjoyed It, and frequently recall the pure, lively pleasure 
they took In Its representation. This is the story told In narrative form as well 
as it was told on the stage, and will be a treat to all, whether they ha^e seen the 
play or not.”— National Tribune, Washington, D. C. 

“Here we have the shaded lanes, the dusty roads, the hilly pastures, the 
peaked roofs, the school-house, .and the familiar faces of dear old Swmnzey, and 
the story which, dramatized, has packed the largest theater in New York, and 
has been a success every where because of its true and sympathetic touches of 
nature. All the incidents which have held audiences spell bound are here re- 
corded— the accusation of robbery directed against the innocent, boy, his shame, 
and leaving home; the dear old Aunt Tilda, who has been courted for thirty 
years by the mendacious Cy Prime, who has never had the courage to propose : 
the fall of the country boy into the temptations of city life, and his recovery by 
the good old man who braves the metropolis to find him. The story embodies aU 
that the play tells, and all that It suggests as well.”— Kansas Citv JournaL 
May rrth. ^ 


BERTHA M. CLAY’S 

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No. 39.-MARJORIE DEANE. 

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By PROFESSOR WM. HENRY PECK, 

AUTHOR OF 

“ Marlin Marduke,” “£15,000 Reward,” “Siballa, 
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From the very opening paragraph this powerful and intensely exciting 
romance enchains the attention and keeps curiosity constantly active. The 
scene opens in the manufacturing center of Lyons, during a troublesome 
period in her history, when the laboring classes strove to maintain their 
rights against the nobility. The hero, whom fate has made an humble 
workman, finds opportunity for the display of those self-asserting qualities, 
which always force their possessor to the front in every contest. While 
most of the action is thrilling and dramatic, a captivating love episode is 
adroitly interwoven with the main thread of the romance. The mystery 
appertaining to the early life of the Locksmith, the appalling accusation 
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BEN HAMED; 

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THE CHILDREN OF FATE. 

By SYLVANUS COBB, Jr. 


Street & Smith’s Sea and Shore Series, No. 8. 

Price, 25 Cents. 


WHAT THE PRESS SAY OF IT. 


•‘Ben Hamed” is an Oriental romance by Sylvanus Cobb, which recalls 
the delightful stories of the “Arabian Nights,” without their supernatural 
effects. "Indeed, our old friend Haroun Al ^Rascliid figures prominently in 
this work, and is closely identified with the hero and heroine— the devoted 
Assad and the fair Morgiana. It is a romance of pure love, with an in- 
genious and cleverly sustained plot .— Grand Rapids Democrat, Aug, i. 

“Ben Hamed” is the title of an Oriental romance not unlike, the stories of 
the “Arabian Nights.” It is a romance of pure love. A number of strong 
characters combine with the hero and heroine in the solution of an ingenious 
plot , — Harrisburg Patriot, July 23. 

Street & Smith of New York have published “Ben Hamed ; or, The Chil- 
dren of Fate,” by Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., which is No. 8 of the. Ska and Siioue 
Series. This book is an Oriental romance, which recalls the “Arabian 
Nights,” without their supernatural effects. The plot is ingenious and well 
sustained, and brings out a romance of pure love in a charming manner. — 
— San Francisco Morning' Call, July 21. 


“Ben Hamed” is an Oriental romance by Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., published in 
paper by Street & Smith, New York city. It is clever in the way that all of 
Cobb’s stories are clever .—Indianapolis News, July 20. 

“Ben Hamed is a capital story, progressive in action, interesting from 
the opening line, and with a charming love romance, on which are strung 
many remarkable incidents . — Acton Star, July 21. 

A capital story of Eastern life, which must have been suggested by a 
perusal of the “Arabian Nights,” is Sylvanus Cobb’s Oriental narrative of 
“Ben Hamed; or. The Children of Fate.” It is admirably told, full of in- 
terest, and cannot fail to charm all who begin its perusal. — Montana 
Sun, Sept. 22. 

Street & Smith, of the New York Weekly, have published “Ben 
Hamed; or. The Children of Fate,” by Sylvanus Cobb. Jr. This Is an 
Oriental romance, accentuated by a very strong and ingenious plot.— St. 
Paul Pioneer Press, July 2 b 

Street & Smith. New York, publish in paper covers “Ben Hamed,” an 
Oriental romance, by Sylvanus Cobb, which recalls the delightful stories of 
the “Arabian Nights,” without their supernatural effects. — Cincinnati 
JEnquirer. 

“Ben Hamed.” an Oriental romance, by Sylvanus Cobb, is published by 
Street & Smith. New York. It is one of Cobb’s characteristic romances, 
Haroun A1 Rasehid being a prominent tigure. There is nothing strained or 
unnatural in “Ben Hamed." it recalling the stories of the “Arabian Nights, 
without their supernatural effects.— Minneapolis Tribune, July 21 . 


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No. 17— FEDORA , founded on the famous play of the same name, 
by Yictorien Sardou. 

No. 1G-SIBALLA, THE SORCERESS, by Prof. Wm. H. Peck. 
No. 15— THE GOLDEN EAGLE, by Sylvanus Cobb, Jr. 

No. 14-T11E FORTUNE-TELLER OF NEW ORLEANS, by 
Prof. Wm. Henry Peck. 

No. 13— THE IRISH MONTE CRISTO ABROAD, by Alex. 
Robertson, M. D. 

N T o. 12— HELD FOR RANS03I, by Lieutenant Murray. 

No. 11— THE IRISH MONTE CRISTO’S SEARCH, by Alex. 
Robertson, 31. D. 

No. 10— LA TOSCA* from the celebrated play, by Yictorien 
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No. 9— THE MAN IN BLUE, by 3Iary A. Denison. 

No. 8— BEN HAMED, by Sylvanus Cobb, Jr. 

No. 7-CONFESSIONS OF LINSKA. 

No. 6— THE 3IASKED LADY, by Lieutenant 3Iurray. 

No. 5— THEODORA, from the celebrated play, by Yictorien 
Sardou. 

No. 4— THE LOCKSMITH OF LYONS, by Prof. Wm 0 
Henry Peck. 

No. 3— THE BROWN PRINCESS, by 3Irs. M. Y. Victor. 

No. 2— THE SILVER SHIP, by Lewis Leon. 

No. 1— AN IRISH MONTE CRISTO. 


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No. 29— THE POKER KING, by Marline Manly. 

No. 28-BOB YOUNGER’S FATE, by Edwin S. Deane. 

No. 27— THE REVENUE DETECTIVE, by Police Captain 
James. 

No. 26— UNDER HIS THUMB, by Donald J. McKenzie. 

No. 25— THE NAVAL DETECTIVE’S CHASE, by Ned Buntline. 
No. 24— THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE, by Leander P. 
Richardson. 


No. 23- 
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-THE MYSTERY OF A MADSTONE, by K. F. Hill. 
-THE SWORDSMAN OF WARSAW, by Tony Pastor. 

-A WALL STREET HAUL, by Nick Carter. 

THE OLD DETECTIVE’S PUPIL, by Nick Carter. 
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THE DETECTIVE’S CLEW, by “ Old Hutch.” 

-DARKE DARRELL, by Frank H. Stauffer. 

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THE MALTESE CROSS, by Eugene T. Sawyer. 

THE POST-OFFICE DETECTIVE, by Geo. W. Goode. 
OLD MORTALITY, by Y r oung Baxter. 

LITTLE LIGHTNING, by Police Captain James. 

THE CHOSEN MAN, by Judson R. Taylor. 

OLD STONEWALL, by Judson R. Taylor. 

THE MASKED DETECTIVE, by Judson R. Taylor. 

THE TWIN DETECTIVES, by K. F. Hill. 

VAN, THE GOVERNMENT DETECTIVE, by “Old 
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BRUCE ANGELO, by “Old Sleuth.” 

BRANT ADAMS, by “Old Sleuth.” 


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No. 30— MeGINTY’S DOUBLE, by Cornelius Shea. 

No. 29— SMART ALECK ’WAY DOWN EAST, by Frank. 

No. 28— MeGINTY’S CHRISTENING, by Cornelius Shea. 

No. 27— MeGINTY’S BOARDING-HOUSE, by Cornelius Shea. 

No. 26— HIS ROYAL NIBS, by John F. Cowan. 

No. 25— SMART ALECK IN BOSTON, by Frank. 

No. 24— BILLY MAYNE, THE SHARPER, by Walter Fenton. 

No. 23— MeGINTY’S TWINS, by Cornelius Shea. 

No. 22- PHIL AND HIS TORPEDO BOAT, by Harry St. George. 

No. 21- MeGINTY’S GAMBOLS, by Cornelius Shea. 

No. 20— THE MYSTERY AT RAHWAY, by Chester F. Baird. 

No. 19— STANLEY’S BOY COURIER, by The Old Showman. 

No. 18- DIAMOND DICK’S CLAIM, by W. B. Lawson. 

No. 17-DIAMOND DICK’S DEATH TRAIL, by W. B. Lawson. 

No. 16— DASHING DIAMOND DICK, by W. B. Lawson. 

No. 15-SMART ALECK ON HIS TRAY ELS, by Frank. 

No. 14-SMART ALECK’S SUCCESS, bj Frank. 

No. 13— THE SEARCH FOR CAPTAIN KIDD, by Col Juan Lewis. 

No. 12— MECIIINET, THE FRENCH DEI ECTIYE, by Francis A. Durivage. 

No. 11— BOSS OF LONG HORN CAMP; or, A Fortune for a Ransom, by A. 0 

Mouse n. 

No. 10— BASE-BALL BOB: or, The King of the Third Base, by Edward T. 

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No. 9-YOUNG SANTEE, THE BOOTBLACK PRINCE ; or, The Boy Wizard oi 

the Bowery, by Raymond Clyde. 

No. 8— NED HAMILTON ; or, The Boys of Bassington School, byFletclier Cowan. 
No. 7— THE CRIMSON TRAIL ; or, On Custer’s Last YVar-Path, by Buffalo Bill. 

No. 6— THE FLOATING ACADEMY ; or, The Terrible Secrets of Doctor Switchem’s 
School-Ship, by Dash Dale. 

No. 6— NIMBLE NIP, THE CALL-BOY OF THE OLYMPIC THEATER, by John 

A. Mack. 

No. 4— THE GAYEST BOY IN NEYV YORK; or, Adventures by Gaslight, by 

Dash Kingston. 

No. 3— BOUNCER BROYVN ; or. He YVas Bound to Find His Father, by Com- 
modore All-Look. 

No. 2— UNDER THE GULF; or. The Strange Voyage of the Torpedo Boat, by 

Harry St. George. 

No. 1— SMART ALECK ; or, A Crank’s Legacy, by Frank. 


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53 — COONSKIN, THE SCOUT, by Duke Cuyler. 

52- RAZZLE-DAZZLE DICK, by Donald J.‘ McKenzie. 

51— JENNIE, THE TELEGRAPH OPERATOR, by R. M. Taylor. 

50 — FRANK AND JESSE JAMES IN MEXICO, by W. B. Lawson* 

49— THE YOUNGER BROTHER’S VOW, by Jack Sharp. 

48 — THE OCEAN DETECTIVE, by Richard J. Storms. 

47— THE BLACK RIDERS OF SANTOS, by Eugene T. Sawyer* 

46— GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT, by Dan McGinty. 

45- MOUNTAIN TOM, by Ned Buntline. 

44 -PIGTAIL DEMONS, by Harry Temple. 

43— RED RUBE BURROWS, by Edwin S. Deane. 

42— THE HATFIELD McCOY VENDETTA, by W. B. Lawson 
41— THE STONY POINT TRAGEDY, by A. L. Fogg. 

40— THE GREAT RIVER MYSTERY, by Bartley Campbell. 

39— BARNACLE BACKSTAY, by Ned Duntline. 

38-ALF, THE CHICAGO SPORT, by Edward Minturn. 

37— CY, THE RANGER, by Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 

36— HIS HIGHEST STAKE, by Edwin S. Deane. 

35— BOB SINGLETON, by David Lowry. 

34— KENTUCKY KATE, by Marline Manly. 

33— THE ROAD AGENTS, by Leander P. Richardson. 

32- RAMON ARANDA, THE CALIFORNIA DETECTIVE, by Eugene T. 
Sawyer. 

31— THE HUMAN VAMPIRE, by K. F. Hill. 

30-SHADOWEI) AND TRAPPED ; or, Harry the Sport, by Ned Buntline. 
29— THE LIGHTS O’ GOTHAM, by Ralph Royal. 

28— THE GREAT YACHT RACE, by Marline Manly. 

27 -JACK, THE PEEPER, by Harry Temple. 

26 -HUGO, THE FIGHTER. ‘by William FI. Bushnell. 

25— DAItROW\ THE FLOATING DETECTIVE, by Ned Buntline. 

24— THE SHANGHAIER OF GREENWICH STREET, by Henry Deering. 

23— PHENOMENAL PAUL, THE WIZARD PITCHER OF THE LEAGUE, by 
John Wardeu. 


No. 22-OLD MAN HOWE, by Win. O. Stoddard. 

No. 21— CATTLE KATE, by Lieutenant Carlton. 

No. 20 — GUISEPPE, THE WEASEL, by Eugene T. Sawyer. 

No. 19-LOU1SVILLE LUKE, THE JOCKEY WONDER, by Jack Howard. 

No. 18— THE OYSTER PIRATES, by Eugene T. Sawyer. 

No. 17-SILVER MASK, by Delta Calaveras. 

No. 16— THE JOHNSTOWN HERO, by Marline Manly. 

No. 15— THE GREAT CRONIN MYSTERY, by Mark Merrick, Esq. 

No. 14-DIAMOND DICK IN ARIZONA, by Delta Calaveras. 

No. 13- HARRY LOVELL, THE GENTLEMAN RIDER, by Sherwood Stanley. 
No. 12— THE MINER DETECTIVE, by Ned Buntline. 

No. 11— THE OKLAHOMA DETECTIVE, by Old Broadbrim. 

No. 10— THE GOLD-HUNTER DETECTIVE, by Marline Manly. 

No. 9— THE IRISH JUDAS; or, The Great Conspiracy Against Parnell, by 
Clarence flaneool. 

No. 8-BILL TREDEGAR, A Tale of the Moonshiners, by Ned Buntline. 

No. 7— THE PINERY DEN DETECTIVE, bv Mark Merrick, Esq. 

No. 6— CAPTAIN KATE, by Leander P. Richardson. 

No. 5-THE WHITE CAP DETECTIVE, by Marline Manly. 

No. 4- JESSE, THE OUTLAW, A Story of the James Roys, by Captain Jake 
Shackleford. 

No. 3-SEVEN PICKED MEN, bv Jndson R. Taylor. 

No. 2— THE KEWANEE BANK ROBBERY, by J. R. Musick. 

No. 1— THE WHITE CAPS, by Marline Manly. 


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No. 54— THE FACE OF ROSENFEL, by C. H. Montague 25 

No. 53— THAT GIRL OF JOHNSON’S, by Jean Kate Ludlum 25 

No. 52— TRUE TO HERSELF, by Mrs. J. H. Walworth 25 

No. 51— A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN’S SIN, by Hero Strong 25 

No. 50— MARRIED IN MASK, by Mansfield Tracy Walworth 25 

No. 49— GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY, by Mrs. M. V. Victor 25 

No. 48 -THE MIDNIGHT MARRIAGE, by A. M. Douglas 25 

No. 47 — SADIA THE ROSEBUD, by Julia Edwards 25 

No. 46— A MOMENT OF MADNESS, by Charles J. Bellamy 25 

No. 45— WEAKER THAN A WOMAN, by Charlotte M. Brame 25 

No. 44— A TRUE ARISTOCRAT, by Mrs. Georgie Sheldon 25 

No. 43 — TRIXY, by Mrs. Georgie Sheldon 25 

No. 42— A DEBT OF VENGEANCE, by Mrs. E. Burke Collins 25 

No. 41 -BEAUTIFUL RIENZI, by Annie Ashmore : 25 

No. 40 — AT A GIRL'S MERCY, by Jean Kate Ludlum 25 

No. 39 — MAR JO tllE DEANS, by Bertha M. Clay 25 

No. 38 — BEAUTIFUL, BUT POOR, by Julia Edwards 25 

No. 37— IN LOVE'S CRUCIBLE, by Bertha M. Clay 25 

No. 36— THE GIPSY’S DAUGHTER, by Bertha M. Clay 25 

No. 35— CECILE S MARRIAGE by Lucy Randall Comfort 25 

No. 34 — THE LITTLE WIDOW, by Julia Edwards 25 

No. 33 — THE COUNTY FAIR, by Neil Burgess 25 

No. 32 -LADY RYHOPE'S LOVER, bv"nmi G. Jones 25 

No. 31— MARRIED FOR GOLD, by Mrs. E. Burke Collins 25 

No. 30— PRETTIEST OF ALL, by Julia EJwards 25 

No. 29— THE HEIRESS OF EGREMONT, by Mrs. Harriet Lewis 25 

No. 23— A HEART'S IDOL, by Bertha M. Clay 25 

No. 27— WINIFRED, by Mary Kyle Dallas 25 

No. 26— FONTELROY, by Francis A. Durivage 25 

No. 25 — THE KING’S TALISMAN, by Sylvanus Cobb, Jr 25 

No. 24— THAT DOWDY, by Mrs. Georgie Sheldon 25 

No. 23— DENMAN THOMPSON’S OLD HOMESTEAD 25 

No. 22— A HEART’S BITTERNESS, by Bertha M. Clay 25 

No. 21 — THE LOST BRIDE, by Clara Augusta 25 

No. 20— INGOMAR. by Nathan D. Urner 25 

No. 19— A LATE REPENTANCE, by Mrs. Mary A. Denison 25 

No. 18— ROSAMOND, by Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller 25 

No. 17 — THE HOUSE OF SECRETS, by Mrs. Harriet Lewis 25 

No. 16— SYBIL’S INFLUENCE, by Mrs. Georgie Sheldon 25 

No. 15— THE VIRGINIA HEIRESS, by Mrs. May Agnes Fleming 25 

No. 14— FLORENCE FALKLAND, by Burke Brentford 25 

No. 13— THE BRIDE-ELECT, by Annie Ashmore 25 

No. 12— THE PHANTOM WIFE, by Mrs. M. V. Victor 25 

No. 11— BADLY MATCHED, by Mrs. Helen Corwin Pierce 25 

No. 10— OCTAVIA’S PRIDE, by Charles T. Manners 25 

No. 9 -THE WIDOW'S WAGER, by Rose Ashleigh 25 

No. 8 -WILL SHE WIN! by Emma Garrison Jones 25 

No. 7— GRATIA’S TRIALS, by Lucy Randall Comfort 25 

These popular books are largo type editions, well printed, well hound, and 
in handsome covers. For sale by all Booksellers and Newsdealets , oi sent, 
postage free, on receipt of price, 25 cents each, by the publishers, 

STREET & SMITH, 

25 to 31 Rose Street, New York. 


P. O. Box 2734. 


'C'v 



illustrates how necessary it becomes to all people who have once tried 
and discovered its merits. 8ome who ask for it have to fight for it in a 
more serious way, and that too in drug stores where all sorts of vile and 
'inferior soaps are urged upon them as substitutes. But they can always 
get the genuine Pears’ Soap, if they will be as persistent as are these urchins. 

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